AMES, Iowa — The 50th anniversary of Iowa State University’s Horticulture Research Station will be celebrated Sept. 16 at the farm near here.
The public is invited to help mark the anniversary at a free field day beginning at 12:30 p.m. There will be farm tours, apple demonstrations, games for children and an anniversary program hosted by Jeff Iles, chair of the Department of Horticulture.
“For 50 years, the Horticulture Research Station has been the site for the creation and application of new horticultural information,” Iles said. “More recently, the scope of research conducted at the farm has expanded beyond its historic horticultural roots, but the spirit and formula for solving problems using the scientific method remains the same.”
The station is the site of dozens of research and demonstration projects including work with fruit, vegetables, turfgrass, trees, pollinators, cover crops and animals, such as turtles and birds. Produce grown at the station is sold to the Iowa State Dining Services and others on campus.
The anniversary schedule includes:
- 12:30 p.m., gates open
- 1 – 4:30 p.m., farmer’s market and games
- 1 – 3 p.m., apple grading and produce washer demonstration by Iowa State’s Horticulture Club
- 1 – 3 p.m., tours led by station staff and graduate students
- 3 – 3:45 p.m., program
- 3:45 – 5 p.m., repeated apple grading and produce washer demonstration
- 3:45 – 5 p.m., repeated tours
The Horticulture Research Station is located 6 miles north of Ames at 55519 170th St.
