Farm Fest Promotes Community/Environment Relationships

QUINCY, Florida -- Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program held its 3rd annual Springtime Agri-Showcase Farm Fest at the FAMU Research & Extension Center on June 2 in Quincy, FL. Southern SARE was a sponsor and exhibitor of the event.

The event, "Solutions for Florida Citizens," highlighted crop production practices, new technologies, environmental stewardship and a number of sustainable agriculture practices, including agroforestry, silvopasture, high tunnels and biofuels research. Farm Fest affords Florida residents, farmers and ranchers and students the opportunity to tour demonstrations that showcase economic profitability, environmentally friendly practices and advances in agricultural production methods.

"Based on FAMU research, individual farmers can save up to $330 every 90 days by growing their own vegetables on 120 square feet of land," said FAMU research associate Gilbert Queeley.

The FAMU Research & Extension Center is comprised of over 267 acres of land used in a variety of agricultural research projects from agroforestry to small ruminant production to vegetable crop production.

See this related article. The following photos showcase the day's event:

Agroforestry production at the FAMU Research & Extension Center.	A bountiful harvest at the FAMU Farm Fest.
FAMU Farm Fest participants learn more about hydroponics.	FAMU Farm Fest participants collect free packets of vegetable seed.
Sugarcane research demonstrations at the FAMU Research & Extension Center.	FAMU research associate Gilbert Queely demonstrates the farm's irrigation system.
Goat milk ice cream, courtesy of Fort Valley State University.	Small ruminant production is a big part of the FAMU Research & Extension Center. The researchers rotational graze the goats on clay cow peas.
Florida farmer Jerald Hubble (left) shows event participants his methods of hydroponics production.	Bravo Brown, a FAMU PhD student in environmental sciences, is exploring the use of seashore mallow as a source of biofuel production.
Former NFL football player Mike Mckenzie (right) with Southern SARE's James Hill (center) and FAMU agronomy major Sean Sangster at the FAMU Farm Fest.	Silvopasture research at the FAMU Research & Extension Center.