COLUMBIA, Mo. — Each year, the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) and University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (UMCA) host the family-friendly and educational Missouri Chestnut Roast event. This year is going to look a little bit different.
Instead of offering an in-person event at the Research Center, located in New Franklin, Mo., HARC and UMCA will go virtual this year, along with the rest of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Agricultural Research Centers during the annual field day season. The HARC Virtual Chestnut Roast will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, with numerous unique videos available through the Research Center’s website and Facebook page.
“The videos will include informative content on the production of pecan, chestnut and elderberry, from start to finish,” said Sarah Lovell, director of UMCA and co-superintendent of HARC. “While you won’t be able to smell the aroma or taste the flavor of roasted chestnuts, you will be treated to new behind-the-scenes footage and video tours of HARC that will immerse you in a true Missouri agroforestry landscape. The event promises to be inspiring for audiences near and far.”
The Virtual Chestnut Roast will include a keynote video given by Curtis Stone, known as “The Urban Farmer” from Canada, who, according to his website, has an area of expertise in quick-growing, high-value annual vegetables for direct consumer market streams.
“Curtis will give us a personal tour of his new storage crop farm,” Lovell said. “It’s going to be a really unique presentation.”
Individuals can find the presentations beginning around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, on the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center Facebook page (facebook.com/mizzouharc/
“We have so many excellent researchers doing interesting and important work out at HARC,” Lovell said. “We are excited to be able to showcase all that they do, as well as offer our audience access to speakers who we don’t normally feature. It’s going to be an exciting event.”
— University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
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