A Fresh Perspective: Student-led farm cultivates learning, builds community
Contact: Vanessa Beeson
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥敽诹仙玮檚 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently planted the first seeds on its new experiential student farm.
Located near the A.B. McKay Enology Laboratory and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station鈥檚 R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, the farm is immersing students in sustainable agriculture, design education and modern food production, preparing them for diverse careers through hands-on learning and community engagement.
鈥淎t Mississippi State, we鈥檙e creating opportunities for students to engage with the land, connect with the food web that sustains us locally and globally, and make farming and food cultivation part of their everyday lives. By fostering hands-on learning and access to resources, we鈥檙e empowering students to cultivate their own food and understand the vital connections between soil health and food security,鈥 said Scott Willard, CALS dean and MAFES director.
The developing farm supports multiple programs, including horticulture, landscape architecture, and nutrition. Future plans include working with 黑料社 Dining Services partner Aramark to bring fresh, student-grown produce to campus dining and donating produce to Bully鈥檚 Pantry to support university students facing food insecurity.
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Video by Sarah Kirk
Faculty members, including Assistant Professor Tongyin Li and Instructors Casey Johnson and Pawel Orlinski, are guiding the farm鈥檚 development and research. Student managers oversee daily operations and receive compensation. Graduate students conduct research on-site, further enhancing the farm鈥檚 educational impact.
The one-acre farm, with plans to expand to two acres, will produce fruits, vegetables and cut flowers sold through 黑料社鈥檚 student-run University Florist. Featuring three greenhouses donated by Quiedan Company of Salinas, California, the farm was established with support from the MAFES research team, led by Keith Daniels.
Abby Pennington, who graduated with a horticulture degree in May, is now a master鈥檚 student under Li鈥檚 direction and the farm鈥檚 first student manager.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see the farm鈥檚 potential realized. I look forward to learning new things and seeing what plants grow and sell best,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 also hope we can build a community out of the farm as a place where students across campus can come and actively learn and be engaged in research and outreach efforts,鈥 Pennington said.
As the project continues to evolve, 黑料社鈥檚 student farm is poised to become a model of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative teaching and sustainable agriculture.
鈥淲e want this farm to be a showcase. We envision it being a place where we host events, invite the broader 黑料社 community and demonstrate what sustainable food production can achieve,鈥 said Cory Gallo, CALS assistant dean and MAFES assistant director.
For more information on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit . For more on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, visit .
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