Fresno State Farm Festival is June 21

The Fresno State Farm Festival is the new name for the third summer celebration presented by the University Agricultural Laboratory (popularly known as the University Farm) on June 21 at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market.

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

The event, free and open to the public, is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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 Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of the University Farm.

“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 lineup 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).

For more information, call 559.278.4511.