CHICO, Calif. — This Earth Day, April 22, 2022, Chico State’s College of Agriculture will host its annual Wildcat Day on the Farm. The event will be held from 10–3 p.m., and will feature guided tractor tours, a no-host lunch, agricultural games and more.
Since its inauguration in 2018, Wildcat Day on the Farm has been a fantastic opportunity for non-agriculture students, faculty and staff to visit the 800-acre farm. The event has expanded to include the Chico community, who can now also enjoy an educational experience at no cost. Student-guided tours include an introduction to the beef, sheep, swine, and organic dairy units, the Organic Vegetable Project, greenhouses, the Meats Laboratory, crops and orchards.
Patricia Stock, dean of the College of Agriculture, noted how suitable the timing is for the event this year.
“Farmers and ranchers take their role as environmental stewards seriously, and we in the College of Agriculture are proud to be a leader in applied research and teaching of sustainable and resilient agricultural systems,” Stock said.
For those hoping to take home a piece of the farm, apparel and merchandise will be available, in addition to nuts, olive oil, meat and fresh vegetables produced by Chico State students, faculty and staff. The greenhouses will also be open, offering seasonal vegetable and herb starts, annual and perennial flowers, and succulents.
In addition, a no-host lunch will be available from local food venders in the University Farm arboretum.
Founded in 1960, the Paul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm serves as a living laboratory for students and faculty in the College of Agriculture. The Farm delivers the hands-on laboratory component for more than 20 agriculture courses each year, employs dozens of students each semester through paid employment and Directed Work Experience, hosts more than 10,000 visitors annually for farm tours, field days, industry seminars, and community events, and serves as a center for agricultural literacy for youth and adults alike by helping visitors build a foundational knowledge of where their food comes from.
–College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico