4th Annual AgFest Highlights Innovation and Education in Virginia Agriculture
On Tuesday, March 24, Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture (COA) hosted its 4th Annual AgFest in honor of National Agriculture Day. This vibrant event brought together students, farmers, local businesses, families, and community members for a celebration of the many ways in which agriculture impacts all of us.
The festivities kicked off at 11:00 a.m. with an energetic drumline performance, followed by a steady flow of school groups and community visitors. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed live entertainment, student performances and a wide range of activities for all ages. As one of COA’s largest events of the year, AgFest showcased the many ways agriculture shapes everyday life. From the bustling Trojan Farmers Market, featuring local producers from across Virginia, to hands-on educational exhibits and farm-to-table food, the event offered ample opportunities for learning and engagement.
Extension and research staff and students hosted interactive displays for attendees of all ages to learn about COA’s impacts and gain a better understanding of agriculture’s broad influence on our daily lives. Highlights included the “Spinning 4 Health” Blender Bike, where participants powered spin art through cycling, kid-friendly STEM stations and pens with rabbits and small ruminants for an up-close look at livestock. Educational stations focused on nutrition and building a balanced meal, and innovative research in growing areas like food as medicine and hydroponics. Throughout the event, vendors sold locally grown food, health and beauty products and plants.
VSU students played a vital role in the event’s success, volunteering and representing various colleges and student organizations. For many attendees, AgFest was an eye-opening experience that broadened their understanding of agriculture and the people who sustain it. All the while, live performances and music, food trucks, and activities like pedal carts, a mechanical bull and an inflatable obstacle course provided a fun and energetic atmosphere.
“AgFest is a great opportunity for us to promote the College of Agriculture, research and extension, and the work that our faculty, staff and students are doing,” said Provost Dr. Tia A. Minnis. “It’s a great opportunity for us to celebrate, to educate and to support the agricultural community.”
Jakada Christmas, a senior majoring in Agricultural Business and Economics with a certification in International Agriculture and the MANRRS Secretary, emphasized the event’s broader impact. “It’s important for people who aren’t Ag majors to come to AgFest because it gives them an opportunity to see that agriculture is in everything,” she said. “Without agriculture, you’re either hungry or you’re cold. Agriculture is in our food and clothes, and AgFest is a fun way to show people the different ways it’s incorporated into their lives.”
Through education, entertainment, and community engagement, AgFest continues to highlight the essential role of agriculture while offering opportunities for COA Extension and the community to connect more broadly with Virginia agriculture and with each other.
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