COLUMBIA Mo. – One of the University of Missouri’s most important research centers, South Farm, will open its doors to the public for a day of science and discovery for the entire family.

The fifth annual South Farm Showcase will take place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sept. 24, at the MU South Farm, one-quarter mile east of Highway AC/Grindstone off Highway 63.

The free event is sponsored by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. South Farm is a 1,452-acre research, teaching, and extension center where researchers study improvements in swine, beef, sheep and crop production. Research is also conducted in alternative fuels, turfgrass, agroforestry and equine care. More than 1,500 MU students get first-hand knowledge in these areas by assisting in research programs each year.

This year’s showcase, Fun on the Farm, will feature a sawmill demonstration, dog training, a tornado simulator, wagon rides, lawn and garden information, agricultural engineering demonstrations, a corn maze and a petting zoo. Information on equine care and alternative energy will also be on-hand. Attendees can taste tomatoes, sample wine, take home a free pumpkin (while supplies last), and for a small fee, take a tethered balloon ride for a bird’s eye view of the 1,400 acre research center.

“There’s a wide array of events from activities that entertain three-year-olds to learning about the latest advancements in science,” said John Poehlmann, assistant director of the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station.

South Farm supports the research, outreach and teaching missions of animal science, plant science, veterinary science, biology, botany, biochemistry, and other disciplines. The farm is home to the Swine Research Complex, the Beef Research and Teaching Farm, the Turf Center, and the Horse Farm. The farm also supports research and demonstration projects in entomology, poultry, and maize genetics.

For more information visit: http://cafnr.missouri.edu/aes/southfarm/

CAFNR is changing the core components of society that impact what we eat, where we live and how we’ll face tomorrow. As the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, we are at the forefront of research and education, working toward global sustainability.