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CAFNR Showcase at South Farm delivers a day of hands-on educational opportunities to mid-Missouri each fall. The 2025 event will be Saturday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3600 East New Haven Road in Columbia.
The event is an opportunity to experience one of Mizzou’s research, teaching and extension farms, part of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ (CAFNR) programs.
“We always look forward to opening South Farm to the public and sharing all the many ways agriculture and CAFNR impact the lives of Missourians,” said Dusty Walter, director of the Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC), which includes South Farm.
The event will feature the return of many family favorites including tomato variety, nut, grape juice and ice cream tasting opportunities; baby animals, including the foal parade; and a sunflower maze.
CAFNR faculty, staff and students will be stationed at dozens of booths around the farm offering hands-on educational experiences, including cockroach races, cotton ball cloud activity, guess the flavor, painting with corn-based pigments, rainfall simulator, build a park, robotics demonstration and much more.
“In CAFNR, our research, education and outreach helps solve the most pressing problems in our world today, including economic pressures, protecting our natural resources and global food insecurity,” said CAFNR Associate Dean of Research Shibu Jose. “We are eager to showcase the impact and importance of our work to our community and the next generation of agricultural, food and natural resources leaders.”
Several external partners will also provide activities, including the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
Children 12 and under can earn a free pumpkin by visiting key stations throughout the event via the popular “Showcase Passport.”
Lily’s Cantina food truck and Kona Ice will be available for purchase.
CAFNR Showcase at South Farm is free and open to the public; no registration required.
South Farm, located five miles from Mizzou’s campus, is a 1,452-acre outdoor classroom for students in animal sciences, plant sciences, veterinary science, biology, botany and many 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.
