By Gabriella Murray, PVAMU Mass Communications Major
Gloria J. Mosby, program director-Communications
PRAIRIE VIEW, TX - Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences will host a college wide Agricultural Field Day, Friday, May 2 through Saturday, May 3 for the benefit of agricultural producers, agricultural policy leaders, elected officials and other persons interested in learning the latest agricultural research and farm demonstration techniques. This year’s field day will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the university’s International Goat Research Center.
“We are extremely pleased to highlight the 25th year of our renowned International Goat Research Center and also the 25th year of the Goat Field Day,” said Dr. Freddie L. Richards, dean, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences. “For the past twenty five years our goat center has been the prototype of cutting edge research in the meat and dairy goat industry, not only in the United States, but internationally as well. Currently, we have successfully transferred our educational research concerning goats to our Ethiopian Sheep and Goat Productivity Improvement Program, which is being conducted in eight of twelve regions in Ethiopia.”
The event will be located in the Carden-Waller Extension building and on the University Farm, and will present a variety of activities that will promote both learning and enjoyment.
The Agricultural Field Day’s intent is to combine the Goat Field Day and Small Farm and Ranch Workshop into one fun-filled and educational event. “Recognizing twenty five years of the research and technology development is very significant,” said Dr. Alfred L. Parks, research director, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center. “Over the past twenty five years our small farm producers have learned the managerial skills needed to raise goats for profit and have benefited from the work that our agricultural researchers have done specifically on meat goats.”
The theme of this year’s occasion is “Sustaining Agricultural Communities” and looks to feature events for both young and not-so-young participants.
The festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m., Friday with a High School Career Awareness Day which aims to showcase the multiple careers available in agriculture and the agricultural and human sciences community. The 25th Anniversary Goat Center Celebration will then follow, which will include a historical exhibition of the Goat Center and viewing and tasting goat products and by-products.
Saturday’s events will feature a presentation by USDA Undersecretary Gale Buchanan and the Goat Kid Giveaway, in which young 4-H participants get the chance to win a goat kid to nurture, raise and breed. The Giveaway program provides an opportunity for young people to eventually contribute a goat kid of their own to a future program.
"Many of these young people who get to keep the kid for a year learn how to care for a goat, keep good 4-H records, learn about leadership development and become more responsible individuals,” said Dr. Nelson Daniels, associate administrator, Cooperative Extension Program. . “They also keep the program running by contributing a new goat kid for a future field day.”
A Goat Barbeque Cook-off will also be featured in Saturday’s agenda. The cook-off will give attendees the chance to sample goat meat and participants the chance to showcase their barbequing expertise.
The day will also provide concurrent sessions that will aid in informing participants of realistic solutions to prominent issues in the agricultural community. These sessions include: Goat Parasites Famacha, Difficult Calving, Goat Management, Goat Parasites, Management of Feral Hogs/Feral Hog Damage, Recordkeeping, Reproduction in Goat Management, Forage Production, and Market Wethers, as well as an informative tour of the University Farm. The day will end with a Goat Auction.
Registration forms are currently available at www.pvamu.edu/agfieldday or at your local Extension office. The registration fee for both adults and children is $10. A separate registration form for high school aged students is also available for those wishing to attend the high school career day at www.pvamu.edu/agfieldday.
Contact the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center at 936/261-5043, the Cooperative Extension Program at 936/261-5137, International Goat Research Center at 936/857-3916, the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at 936/261-2522/2523 or visit www.pvamu.edu/agfieldday for more information.