CAFNR Showcase, formerly known as South Farm Showcase, is set to return Sept. 28. This beloved staple fall event attracts families from Boone County and beyond to experience one of Mizzou’s research farms and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ (CAFNR) programs.
“Showcase weekend is always a favorite for us, and we are looking forward to opening South Farm to the public again this fall and sharing all the many ways agriculture and CAFNR impact the lives of Missourians,” said Dusty Walter, director of the Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC), which includes South Farm.
CAFNR Showcase will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at South Farm, which is located at 3600 East New Haven Road, in Columbia.
The event will feature the return of many family favorites including “Taste of CAFNR”, where visitors will be able to taste the many foods produced by CAFNR programs including grape juice, ice cream, tiger-tail brats and tomatoes; baby animals; the foal parade, a corn maze and sunflowers.
CAFNR faculty, staff and students will be stationed at dozens of booths around the farm offering hands-on educational experiences. These experiences will include cockroach races, a drone demonstration, a liquid nitrogen activity, a soil tunnel, a reptile petting zoo and many more.
“In CAFNR, we really focus on how we can create a healthier world,” said CAFNR Associate Dean of Research Shibu Jose, “and we hope this experience will help inspire the next generation to further that mission.”
Several external partners will also have activities on-hand including monarch and song bird migration activities by Missouri Master Naturalists, a fishing simulator by the Missouri Department of Conservation and live birds of prey on view by Raptor Rehab.
Passports are also back, allowing kids 12 and under to earn a free pumpkin by stopping by key stations throughout the event.
Lily’s Cantina food truck and Kona Ice will be available for purchase.
CAFNR Showcase at South Farm is free and open to the public with no registration required.
Five miles south of the MU campus, South Farm’s 1,452 acres support the research, outreach and teaching missions of animal science, plant science, veterinary science, biology, botany and other disciplines. South Farm is home to the Ag Lime Control Service, the Beef Research and Teaching Farm, the Equine Teaching Facility, the Feed Mill, Missouri Foundation Seed, the Soil Health Assessment Center and the Swine Research and Teaching Farm as well as other services and operations.