May 7, 2008
 

The Gibson Farm Market always offers student products but at the Saturday, June 21, Fresno State Farm Festival, its main product will be in action – the students themselves. The festival, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Guests can meet Fresno State ag students, faculty and staff and try some of the farm-fresh products they produce on campus.

“Our primary product is our students, who are sought after by the agriculture industry because of the real-world experience they get at Fresno State,” said Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of university farm laboratory at Fresno State which consists of 20 enterprises including the Farm Market and the award-winning Fresno State Winery. The event also will have a College World Series touch to it.

The University Agricultural Laboratory, popularly known as the University Farm, has hung a banner congratulating the Bulldogs’ baseball team for its successful run in the NCAA postseason championship tourney. The ’Dogs are one win from advancing to the championship bracket next week. The Kennel Bookstore will have a table at the festival selling commemorative College World Series shirts and hats.

The Fresno State Farm Festival is the new name for the third summer celebration.

Also new this year will be educational features. Several morning workshops will spotlight representatives from some of the University Farm’s 20 enterprises demonstrating creative bouquet design, cooking and recipes, wine tasting techniques and organic herb care. A small fee will be charged for some workshops.

The summer event was begun in 2006 to show appreciation for community support from farm customers throughout the year. It quickly evolved into a successful major event in its own right, said Srinivasan.

“Last year the event had more than 1,000 visitors and set record sales,” Srinivasan said. “This year the farm plans to make the event even bigger and better with some additions.”

The workshop line up includes:

10 a.m. – Organic Herbs - Potting and Care, presented by Calliope Correia, ornamental horticultural enterprise technician. Participants will learn about the care of organic herbs while potting their own selection for their home. They will take home 4-5 herbs in a bio-friendly pot. Fee $10 per person; 25 spots available.

10:30 – Professional Bouquet Design, presented by Elisa Castro, floral enterprise technician. Participants will learn how to make a professional-looking bouquet while creating a floral arrangement of their own. Fee: $15 per person; 25 spots available.

11 – Wine Tasting 101, presented by Ken Fugelsang, Fresno State winemaster, and Jessup Wiley, Fresno State winery marketing director. Fee: $5 per person; 50 spots available on a first-come first-served basis the day of the event.

11:30 – Summer Harvest Recipes. Students from the Culinology® program will demonstrate how to use summer harvest vegetables to create delectable dishes. Free to all interested people.

Immediately following the workshops and demonstrations, a student band, HR7, will perform until 2 p.m.

Information booths about each Fresno State Farm enterprise will have samples available for tasting and representatives answering questions.

The farm’s enterprises consist of eight in animal science laboratories (beef, dairy, equine, meats, poultry, rodeo, sheep and swine); five in food science (dairy processing, food processing, culinology, raisin processing and winery); six in plant science (agronomy, flower, grape, nursery, tree fruit and vegetable); and one in retail (Rue and Gibson Farm Market).

The event will be held in the Farm Market parking lot under tents (5370 N. Chestnut Ave., at Barstow Avenue).

For more information, call 559.278.4511.