By Blake Jackson
According to Alex Naughton, Research News Strategist for the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), the university will host its annual CAFNR Showcase at South Farm on September 26, 2026.
The free, family-friendly event offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience agriculture through interactive exhibits, educational demonstrations, and hands-on activities.
Held at South Farm, part of CAFNR’s Central Missouri Research, Extension and Education Center (CM-REEC), the showcase gives guests an up-close look at the research, teaching, and outreach programs taking place on one of Missouri’s leading agricultural research farms.
Faculty, staff, students, and industry partners will host dozens of exhibits designed to engage attendees of all ages.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of popular activities, including cockroach races, rainfall simulator demonstrations, ice cream tastings, foal parades, agricultural robotics displays, and creative projects using corn-based pigments. Families will also have the chance to explore a sunflower maze and interact with both adult and young farm animals.
Children ages 12 and under can participate in the event’s popular Showcase Passport program. By visiting designated stations throughout the farm, they can earn a free pumpkin.
“This is such an exciting time of the year for us. We’re passionate about agriculture, and getting to open South Farm to the public and share the work we do is an incredible privilege,” said CM-REEC Director Dusty Walter.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Farm, located at 3600 East New Haven Road in Columbia, Missouri. No registration is required, and admission is free. Food trucks and vendors will be on-site offering food and beverages for purchase.
South Farm spans 1,452 acres and serves as an outdoor classroom for CAFNR students while supporting research in livestock management, crop production, natural resources conservation, and agricultural innovation. The annual showcase highlights these efforts while connecting the public with Missouri agriculture.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-fotografixx
Categories: Missouri, General