Sarah Mead
Contributing Writer
smead@murraystate.edu
The 16th annual Fall on the Farm was held this year, a coordinated effort by the Agriculture Leadership Council and the Hutson School of Agriculture.
“It began as the brainchild of my wife who had been on a school trip with our oldest son in the second grade,” Tony Brannon, dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, said. “She said ‘you all should do this,’ and we have been doing it ever since.”
The highlight of the weeklong event, this year on Sept. 28, was the Pullen Farm opening to the public. Fall on the Farm allows the school of agriculture the opportunity to showcase their programs, the farm and the students who help each year.
“It helps the young kids learn about agriculture in a fun atmosphere,” Ryan Morrow, agricultural technology coordinator, said. “And also teaches our students how to deal with people in the community.”
Elementary students from the area visit throughout the week, holding chicks, “buzzing” around gardens making compost, and interacting with agriculture in fun and exciting ways. Other exhibits include drone education stations and the corn maze that has been present each year since the inaugural event.
“You can see how much fun [the kids] have walking around,” Hannah York, officer of the Collegiate FFA club, said. “CFFA does the barn slide. I think the kids love it because it gets their energy out so that whenever they go to that next both, they sit and listen.”
Students from the school of agriculture operate the booths at the event. The students can be seen teaching students, leading them through activities, and assisting them down slides and play equipment. Clubs in the agriculture department encourage members to participate, and some professors offer extra credit to those who help throughout the week.
“Fall on the Farm is super community driven and Murray State is all about the community,” York said. “All the clubs in the Hutson School of Ag have a booth or they do the corn maze, something with Fall on the Farm.”
Collegiate FFA encourages all its members to work at Fall on the Farm each year. Students who are in need of community service or education experience can come out to the farm to work with the children.
“We have several members that are in sororities or [are agricultural education] majors,” York said. “They get to teach kids and we encourage them to participate with Fall on the Farm, mainly because it’s a lot of fun and a great experience. Who doesn’t want to go have fun on the farm and get credit for it?”
The planning for each event is a year long process. Each event is analyzed following the conclusion and dates are suggested for the following year 6 to 12 months prior. At the beginning of the fall semester, the Agriculture Leadership Council begins planning the event in earnest. Proceeds from Fall on the Farm raise money for the student organizations that participate in the event.
“It goes to support activities that allow our students to get an education instead of a degree,” Brannon said.
Having fun and learning about agriculture are the main reasons the Hutson School of Agriculture puts on the event each year. Students, elementary and college alike, get to interact with the community and open themselves up to new experiences.
“Farms are not only important for food production but they can be fun as well,” Brannon said. “We call it a ‘Fun-filled, child-centered family activity.'”