CLARKSVILLE – The past 150 years of agricultural education, research and extension activity made possible by the Morrill Act of 1862 will be recognized during activities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20 at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Research Station. The event is part of the statewide Division of Agriculture Day during which the Division’s research and extension facilities will host their local communities.
The Morrill Act provided federal lands to each state to be used toward the establishment of land-grant colleges at which agricultural studies would be offered. The University of Arkansas was founded in 1871 as a land-grant college. The UA also became a host institution for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station that was founded through passage 125 years ago of the federal Hatch Act. The university’s Arkansas Forest Resources Center resulted from passage 50 years ago of the federal McIntire-Stennis Act that provided support for forestry education and research.
Events at the Fruit Research Station will include:
• Registration at 8:30 a.m.
• Poker Walk from 9 to 11 a.m. UA professors Don Johnson, John Clark and Elena Garcia will be stationed at different spots on the farm to talk about their research. Visitors will go to these spots on the Poker Walk and hay rides.
• Kids’ activities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Demonstration of grapevine wreath making by Barb Stover, Master Gardener, from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Fruit drying discussion by Susan Pickle and Joy West, Food Consumer Science agents, from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Apple cider making
• National Turkey Federation(Johnson County Chapter) Shooting Trailer
• Smokey the Bear
• Tango the Fire Safety Dog making a fire safety presentation for kids from 10 to 11 a.m.
• Janet Carson on fall gardening from 10 to 11 a.m.
• Talk on Division of Agriculture at 11:15 a.m.
• Talk on Morrill and Hatch Acts by Rep. Betty Overbey and Sen. Randy Laverty at 11:30 a.m.
• Door Prizes
• Lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
The Fruit Research Station is at 1749 State Highway 818, near Clarksville. It may be reached by taking Highway 21 north from Clarksville, turning right on Highway 292 at Ludwig, turning left on Highway 818 and going two miles to the station located on the right.