PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – After a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences Ag Field Day returned to campus on April 28-April 29 with more than 200 guests and volunteers.  The guests attended educational sessions and workshops highlighting the work done in the college each day and demonstrating how the academics, research, and extension mission areas impact Texas communities. 

“Often people do not have the chance to come to campus or see what goes into the College of Ag,” said Ashley James, Extension Program Specialist and this year’s Ag Field Day Co-Chair who served along with Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Coordinator Angela Moore. “This is always an opportunity to highlight our three units and see how they work together. 

Friday was centered around K-12 youth getting first-hand experience learning various aspects of agriculture. Youth participants were given the option to explore various workshops within the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch or attend experiential learning activities in the Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) building and May Hall. On the farm, CAHS’ student-led Garden Club instructed their groups on the basics of growing plants, while Wellness in Houston’s mobile kitchen offered food samples using hacks and substitutions to provide more nutritional value to familiar snacks. 

In front of the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center (CARC), an extension agent led youth through an exciting calf roping demonstration. Behind CARC in the Agro-Innovation Technology Center (AITC), one group saw the farm in a brand-new way via virtual reality (VR). AITC Director Ashwani Srivastava’s 360-degree camera captured a complete view of the farm, including a video of Professor Ram Ray, Ph.D., and his flux tower and a tree-health lecture from Professor Aruna Weerasooriya, Ph.D. Using VR goggles, the guests were able to put themselves right on the farm and witness the amazing research and teaching activities happening in labs at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC), Meat Science Center, and more. The Get Ag Smart demonstration displayed how technology is being implemented to improve the climate. 

Over in May Hall, one group made their own butter with Professor Milton Daley, Ph.D., and another session highlighted sausage making and the importance of expanding the palate to introduce nutrient-rich foods in a round of “Nutrition Fear Factor.” 

“Our goal this year was to have a comprehensive display of the college and we tried to make sure each mission area was highlighted on both days,” James said. “I focused on creating the sessions and determining the layout and key speakers while Angela worked to make sure we were compliant with all the policies for hosting guests on campus.” 

Day one ended at midday with lunch and a chance for visitors to visit 4-H booths and reflect on their experience. Many of our guests already had youth involved in 4-H and riding clubs and appreciated the chance to participate in other ag-related programs on PVAMU’s campus. 

“The feedback always lets me know what is working with the event and what we need to improve for the next year,” James said. “I also love interacting with producers and learning what stage they are in with their operations.” 

Day two was dedicated to producers seeking expert knowledge on growing and maintaining farm or ranch operations. The day began with a talk from Attorney Steven Hubbard of the Hubbard Law Firm, discussing the heir’s property rights for landowners in Texas. Through a lack of awareness, many African American landowners forfeit land that could be rightfully and lawfully theirs, and Hubbard offered steps to understanding the laws surrounding land ownership. 

The day continued with numerous sessions around the college, including information about sustainable mini farms, predator control, and effective virtual communication. Meat Science Center Director Lea Ann Kinman, Ph.D., led a meat fabrication demonstration in her lab to showcase the methods available to produce retail cuts and get the most out of each animal. Understanding this skill can help producers bring in more revenue by learning how to use the whole animal to their benefit. 

“That session was so insightful,” said Spring, TX resident Shawntel Coleman. “My daughter raises steers, so we know what a whole cow looks like, but seeing how we can break down the cow for food was compelling.” 

Ag Field Day was also fortunate to have Eloris Speight, Director of Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR) Policy Research Center at Alcorn State University, to provide an update on the USDA Farm Bill. The center conducts research on policies impacting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and makes policy recommendations that will improve their success. 

“I am so thrilled that our college was able to host Ag Field Day again,” said CAHS Dean and Director for Land-Grant Programs Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D. “For our usual audience, this event always serves as a great refresher about the services we offer, and for the new faces on campus this is a brilliant snapshot of the way our mission areas work together to create a system of resources that address various concerns related to agriculture.” 

In CEP, students from the PVAMU College of Nursing that are partnering with the PVAMU Wellness in Houston program provided free blood pressure readings and disseminated medical information that can help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Weerasooriya gave a lecture on several medicinal plants growing, or able to grow, in Texas that provide outstanding health benefits. There was also a session that taught guests to create clothing and pillows without a sewing machine. Ag Field Day opened people’s eyes to how agriculture touches every need we have, but for others, it solidified their desire to involve themselves in the industry. 

“I am new to the area, but I am interested in real estate and meat production, so I attended sessions on those topics and left with foundational details pertinent to Texas agriculture,” said Waller County resident Oladimeji Olawuyi. “This open atmosphere environment gave me a realistic view of the agriculture industry. Also, everything I learned are things I can practice at home.” 

Outreach events like these are designed with CAHS communities in mind. Tailoring events to the needs of the community is an effort to provide accessible resources for people to become self-sustainable through agriculture. 

“I hope our guests left with pride in knowing PVAMU is doing relevant work for them,” James said. “We are doing things on multiple levels to ensure that they and their families are better off in the long run.”

There were many people, departments, and agencies that came together to make Ag Field Day a success this year. Many of our CEP Extension agents were on hand to lead experiential learning stations and answer questions related to their vital roles in the counties they serve. Special thanks again to our Ag Field Day Co-Chairs Ashley Pellerin and Angela Moore, as well as the Information, Impact, and Sustainability Center for their help in promoting this event. Thank you to Quintin Gray, who attended Ag Field Day to represent the 1890s Universities Foundation and their work to increase supply chain diversity. And, of course, thank you to CEP and the CARC faculty and staff for providing their time and knowledge. 

Pascale Mondesir
Senior Communications Specialist
pamondesir@pvamu.edu