FUN ON THE FARM

PALMER — Tuesday’s revival of Agriculture Appreciation Day at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Matanuska Experiment Farm drew supporters of local agriculture and a lot of people just curious what sort of experiments go on at the facility that’s been along Trunk Road for more than 90 years.

“We pass by here all of the time,” said Corinne Breindel. “You think, ‘What in the world is going on there?’ So, it’s neat to see what is going on there.”

What’s going on includes research on potatoes, herd movement, haylage and invasive species, as well as turfgrass for athletic fields, biomass/bioplastics, green-log cabin building, revegetation of gravel pits, GPS-precision farming and rural composting.

While visitors only saw snapshots of some of those projects, it was important for the research farm to hold the event after a six-year hiatus, said Gidget Wensel, a UAF employee and one of the organizers of the event.

“The public needs to be aware agriculture exists and this a good opportunity for them to meet agricultural entities,” Wensel said.

Rain and overcast skies may have kept some away, but Carol Lewis, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences at UAF, said she was happy with attendance.

“I think the turnout was wonderful, and the vendors are great,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “The crew down here did a great job putting it together.”

She said interest from the public about the Fairbanks research site is also increasing.

“The community is responding by recognizing what we do,” Lewis said.

Jill Farris of Palmer brought her 5-year-old daughter, Selene, to the Matanuska Experiment Farm to enjoy the goats, chickens, cows and games for children.

“This is definitely something that is important for little kids and our community,” Farris said. “We wanted to support our local farmers.”

Norm Harris, administrator of the Palmer Research and Experiment Center, said Tuesday’s success was thanks to a lot of community support.

“All these people came together and really put this on,” Harris said. There were food vendors, Alaska Grown product vendors, game for kids, agency booths and lots of door prizes donated by local merchants.

Harris said Tuesday’s successful event bodes well for future years.

“We intend on making it a yearly event, only getting bigger and better each year,” Harris said.