OCALA, Fla. — The College of Central Florida will host a free Field Day on Monday, Nov. 16, at its Center for Agricultural Innovation at the Vintage Farm campus, located at 4020 S.E. Third Ave in Ocala.
The open-house event runs from noon to 4 pm and allows visitors to explore the 103-acre working farm while learning about agricultural and equine programs.
The event is part of Marion County’s Farm City Week, which celebrates partnerships between rural and urban communities that support the food supply ahead of Thanksgiving.
Attendees can drop in at any time during event hours to learn about career options, network with industry organizations, and connect with college faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Jacob Dorland serves as agribusiness program manager at the College of Central Florida. He emphasized that the open house is designed to welcome local residents as well as prospective students.
“We really want to encourage the community to come out to this event and see our beautiful farm,” Dorland said. “This event isn’t just for prospective students. It’s a great outing for families with young kids that want to see the farm, or anyone who’s ever driven by and been curious about what we do here. Our students want to show off what they’ve been learning, and our faculty and staff want to talk to people in the community about agriculture.”
During the event, faculty members will conduct live demonstrations featuring resident livestock and high-tech agriculture drones.
John D. Ash is dean of Business, Technology, and Agricultural Sciences at the college. He noted that the event highlights academic degree pathways and practical experiences available to students.
“Field Day is one of our favorite days at the farm. We love to showcase the wonderful educational opportunities we offer,” Ash said. “With our cutting-edge Ag Tech programs, including our new Precision Agriculture Technology A.S. degree, world-class Equine Studies faculty, clear career pathways, and even several beloved horses, field day is always an inspiring experience.”
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