MSU Extension showing off progress on north farm this Sunday

CHATHAM — The Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center in Chatham has spent the summer working hard on a new project, and now it’s inviting the public to come and see what it’s been up to.

The Extension Center will be holding an open house at its newly established north farm on Sunday. It hopes to show an already curious audience from around the area more about the work being done to provide future educational opportunities.

“This is an educational facility, so a lot of the project of this year was to prepare for next year, when we’re bringing on farmers for the farmer training programs, and so we’re developing the infrastructure that needs to be in place for those folks when they arrive: the new hoop house, the two field tunnels we have here, some of the other buildings that we’re using for processing and cold storage, and other things like that,” said Collin Thompson, Farm Manager of the north farm.

Tours will be provided, and visitors will be able to learn more about the various programs the north farm will be running, including public workshops. The open house will also feature a unique experience for those wishing to learn more about sustainability.

“The Marquette Food Co-op is providing the Lexicon of Sustainability, which is kind of a multimedia exhibit,” Thompson added. “It’s going to have some really neat photography, as well as a video that they’re going to show up in one of our barns here, all kind of focused on the sustainable agriculture movement.”

The activities begin at 1:00 p.m. and run through 4:00 p.m. The north farm is located on Rock River Road just half a mile north of the Village of Chatham. For more information about the U.P. Research and Extension Center and Sunday’s open house, visit its website.