Virginia Tech's Farm and Family Showcase will offer a convenient one-stop shop for information about agriculture, landscaping, forestry, and a variety of topics that involve families from Thursday, Sept. 4 to Saturday, September 6 at Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm in Blacksburg.

Featured information will include agricultural production, business, and technology; poultry, environmental stewardship and natural resources; livestock; pasture management; food quality and safety; chemistry; insects; plant diseases; home landscaping, horticulture and vegetable gardening; lawn care; value-added food products; birds; and bats. There will be displays, demonstrations, and seminars.

Families may enjoy the special events which include a cornfield maze, an aquaculture exhibit, a display of award-winning 4-H projects, egg incubation, butterfly gardens, and a variety of other exhibits.

Youngsters can enjoy the children's activity center. At the activity center children will learn about agriculture and foods originating in America while playing games, making and using puppets, and participating in interactive storytelling sessions. They can have their faces painted and have some fun on the toddler playground as well.

Walking as well as bus tours of Kentland Farm will give participants a chance to learn about the farm and its use for teaching, research and Extension. Virginia Cooperative Extension will have a variety of displays to give visitors a chance to learn about the many educational programs offered throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia Tech's Kentland Farm, where the event is to be held, is located along the New River a few miles west of the Blacksburg campus. The 1,700-acre farm is the university's newest and largest agricultural research and teaching center.

The showcase is sponsored by the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Natural Resources, and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the University Outreach and International Affairs Program Development office. Many businesses and government agencies are also involved.

For more information, please visit the web site at http://www.farmandfamily.vt.edu or contact Dwight Paulette at (540)731-1289 or kentland@vt.edu

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