College of Ag Celebrates Family Futures During 30th Anniversary of Ag Expo
6/18/09
Contact: Michelle Lavra
517-432-1555, ext. 151
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The sixth annual MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) tent promises family fun and education during the 30th annual Ag Expo, July 21-23 on the campus of Michigan State University (MSU).
The theme of this year’s CANR tent is “Family Futures.” Exhibits, educational sessions and activities will show how CANR programs -- including MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station -- contribute to a strong, prosperous, healthy future for Michigan’s families.
“MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers so many programs that can help Michigan families have a better future,” said CANR tent coordinator Michelle Lavra. “In this year’s Family Futures tent, we showcase those programs so that families can discover the resources available to them through the college, MSU Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station.”
Once again, the MSU Dairy Store will offer free ice cream, including popular flavors such as “4-H Forever” and “Sesquicentennial Swirl.” Visitors are asked to make a donation, with all proceeds going to the CANR Alumni Scholarship Fund.
What goes better with ice cream than birthday cake! University Archives and Historical Collections is celebrating its 40th anniversary and will serve cake on Tuesday after a brief presentation at 1 p.m. At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the college will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ag Expo with a short presentation followed by cake.
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan will be sponsoring a performance stage in the tent. A presentation on wind energy will be given each morning at 9:30 and a session on succession planning each day at 1:15 p.m. There will be cooking demonstrations each day at 11:45, plus sessions on using kitchen incubators for developing food products, youth entrepreneurship and square-foot gardening.
Information about career options related to agriculture and natural resources will be available to visitors, who can also speak with representatives from the college’s undergraduate programs office and the CANR Alumni Association.
The MSU Bulletin Office will be offering many of its popular publications free or for sale, some at show-discount rates. Visitors can also stop by the Plant Doctor booth and ask questions and have their problematic plants examined and diagnosed by a Master Gardener or other horticulture expert.
Children can enjoy several hands-on activities at the crafts table, as well as participate in engaging activities offered by many exhibitors. Youth who complete an Ag Expo “birthday card” by collecting stamps from participating booths will also receive a fun prize.
The tent will be located on Expo Drive on the Ag Expo grounds, which are just off Mt. Hope Road, across from the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. Because of the construction on Farm Lane, the Ag Expo parking area and grounds will be accessible only from Mount Hope Road. Visitors should look for a large, white tent on the northern edge of the Ag Expo grounds.
For more information about the CANR tent or Ag Expo, call 1-800-366-7055 or visit the Web site at http://www.agexpo.msu.edu.
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