Learn about the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) research and the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture’s Farm to You program in a fun, family-friendly way during this year’s Farm Day, held rain or shine on Saturday, August 17. The Farm Day event is organized by the Durham Agricultural Commission and Lee Agricultural Commission. Participating partner Granite State Dairy Promotion will also be on-site at UNH's Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, offering free milk while supplies last.
Starting at 10 a.m., stop by UNH’s Kingman Research Farm in Madbury to learn about ongoing agricultural research at the farm and sit inside large tractors and other heavy farming and logging equipment used by NHAES staff and scientists to manage agricultural, environmental, and forestry studies, and to grow food for UNH’s research and teaching animals.
Also opening at 10 a.m., with a guided tour at 2 p.m., is the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center in Durham, which houses UNH’s conventional dairy herd and serves as a hub for regional dairy research. Visit with NHAES farm managers and scientists and discover how feed trials and other studies at this facility have made a lasting impact on the dairy industry and on dairy operations in the Northeast.
At 1 p.m., UNH’s horticulture teaching high tunnels, located adjacent to the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, will open for a guided tour of the Farm to You program — a two-semester hands-on horticulture training class in which students plant, grow, and harvest food that is then provided to the University community in the UNH dining halls.
“It’s exciting to showcase to nearby communities how their land-grant university is conducting locally inspired agricultural research and providing impactful teaching, both of which support our entire state,” said Anton Bekkerman, director of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. “I am delighted that this year, we are also able to combine events with one of our long-standing partners, Granite State Dairy Promotion, to highlight dairy farming’s sustained contributions to our local and regional food systems.
The nonprofit Granite State Dairy Promotion (GSDP) will offer free milk from New Hampshire farmers while supplies last and highlight the importance of supporting our local small- and mid-sized dairy operations. Supported by New Hampshire’s dairy industry, GSDP represents the state’s dairy sector and local farms with the goal of increasing the sale of locally produced milk and other dairy products through events and nutrition education.
“We are thrilled to be participating in this educational event,” said Amy Hall, Executive Director of the GSDP. “UNH stands out among research centers with their studies being published both nationally and globally. Their endeavors and dedication to educating the future of agriculture are extraordinary, and we feel very fortunate to be included in this farm day.”
Hall added, “Granite State Dairy Promotion works hard to better connect consumers with their local farms and farmers. It is our hope that this event will facilitate a broader understanding of the value our local farms bring to New Hampshire.”
For a complete list of farms participating in the 11th Annual Durham Farm Day, visit the 11th Annual Farm Day website.
UNH Schedule of Events
UNH Kingman Research Farm, 333 Knox Marsh Road, Madbury
Open 10 a.m. – Noon
Directions – free parking
About the facility: Bring the entire family to look, touch, and even sit in farming and forestry trucks, tractors, loggers, skid steers and more! Learn about the leading-edge agricultural, forestry, and environmental research that these instruments help support at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station.
UNH Fairchild Dairy Teaching & Research Center, 36 O’Kane Road, Durham
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Guided tour at 2 p.m.
Directions – free parking
About the facility: Modeled after a typical New England Dairy operation to ensure that new research and management expertise is directly applicable to many state and regional stakeholders, the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center houses approximately 160 cows and supports the agricultural animal research at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station. Come visit the dairy and learn more about how a sustainable New Hampshire dairy operates.
UNH Farm to You Teaching High Tunnels & Community Gardens, 36 O’Kane Road, Durham
Open 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Guided tour at 1 p.m.
Directions – free parking
About the facility: The UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture’s Teaching High Tunnels are part of a year-long course that teaches students hands-on skills to sustainably grow food throughout the year. In 2024, the adjacent COLSA Community Gardens was also established. The Gardens offer a space where students from across the world can grow a diversity of crops in individual plots and where COLSA students, faculty and staff can learn from each other and work together.
