More than 300 farmers, agricultural experts, officials and high school students from across Tennessee will spend a day on ‘the farm’ at Tennessee State University July 18 for a day of education and field demonstrations during the annual Small Farm Expo.

Sponsored by the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences, the daylong event takes place from 8:15 am until 3 pm at the Agricultural Research and Education Center on main campus.

“This expo is designed to educate, inform and energize the growing and vital fields of agriculture and technology,” said Dr. Latif Lighari, associate dean for Extension Services. “Landowners will have the opportunity to learn about topics of interest to small-acreage farmers, as well as network with each other and connect with local agencies and resources.”

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the University of Tennessee Extension, and the Tennessee Farm Bureau, discussions will focus on everything from meat goat breeding, native warm-season grass production, to plant nutrition, and plasticulture and drip irrigation. Researchers will also demonstrate how to produce bio-fuel from oil seed crops in TSU’s new mobile processing unit.

According to organizers, the ‘Small Farmer Recognition’ luncheon will highlight the Expo when four distinguished and selected small farmers from Tennessee will be acknowledged for their best management and creative marketing practices.

The program will begin with check-in and registration beginning at 8:15 am. The expo is free, and there is no cost to attend the luncheon.
For more information and a complete list of events, visit <www.tnstate.edu/extension/smallfarmexpo.aspx>.