Published on Sep. 28, 2023

Formerly known as South Farm Showcase, Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources will host CAFNR Showcase at South Farm for the first time since 2019.

Written by Shannon Beck · September 20, 2023

For many years, South Farm Showcase was a beloved staple fall event attracting families from Boone County and beyond to experience one of Mizzou’s research farms and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ (CAFNR) programs, and interact with the facility. After a three-year hiatus, CAFNR is excited to reintroduce the event as CAFNR Showcase at South Farm.

“We have all missed this event and are looking forward to opening South Farm to the public again this fall and showcasing all the many ways agriculture and CAFNR touch the lives of Missourians,” said Dusty Walter, director of the Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC), which includes South Farm.

CAFNR Showcase will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30, at South Farm, which is located at 3600 East New Haven Road, in Columbia.

The event will feature the return of many favorites with some new additions as well. This year’s CAFNR Showcase will bring with it the return of crowd-favorite “Taste of CAFNR” where visitors will be able to taste the many foods produced by CAFNR programs.

Kids will also be happy to see the return of animals at the Equine Teaching Facility and the corn maze. Passports will also be back, allowing kids 12 and under to earn a free pumpkin by stopping by key stations throughout the event.

One of the biggest updates visitors will notice is that MU’s Center for Agroforestry will be bringing a sampling of its signature event, the Missouri Chestnut Roast, to CAFNR Showcase. The Chestnut Roast has traditionally taken place at the Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Farm in New Franklin and introduces visitors to many of Missouri’s specialty agricultural products like chestnuts, maple syrup, elderberries and pawpaws. This year, the Missouri Chestnut Roast and CAFNR Showcase at South Farm will be teaming up to provide one event.

“We are really looking forward to the opportunity to reach new audiences by bringing the Missouri Chestnut Roast to CAFNR Showcase at South Farm,” said Ben Knapp, interim director for the Center for Agroforestry. “The Chestnut Roast has so much to offer, and by teaming up with our colleagues at South Farm, we are going to be able to share information on agroforestry and Missouri specialty crops with even more Missourians.”

Lily’s Cantina food truck and Kona Ice will also be available at the event.

CAFNR Showcase at South Farm is free and open to the public with no registration required.

Five miles south of the MU campus, South Farm’s 1,452 acres support the research, outreach and teaching missions of animal science, plant science, veterinary science, biology, botany and other disciplines. South Farm is home to the Ag Lime Control Service, the Beef Research and Teaching Farm, the Equine Teaching Facility, the Feed Mill, Missouri Foundation Seed, the Soil Health Assessment Center and the Swine Research and Teaching Farm as well as other services and operations.