Under the bright sunshine of a warm fall day, more than
1,000 people enjoyed samples of some of the best of
Missouri at the first University of Missouri Center for
Agroforestry (UMCA) Chestnut Roast - from crisp local
wines and elk burgers, to black walnut ice cream, and of
course, fresh roasted chestnuts.
The first Chestnut Roast, held Oct. 4 at the University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) near New Franklin, Mo., kicked off an annual tradition designed to educate families about the ongoing research activities and initiatives of the Center for Agroforestry. The event featured large white tents bustling with Missouri foods, local wine vendors and agricultural information. Guests were escorted on guided bus tours of the HARC research projects, but many chose to enjoy the beautiful weather and landscapes on foot. Experimental black walnut, Chinese chestnut and fruit tree orchards, as well as examples of alley cropping and windbreaks, offered an up-close view of agroforestry practices.
Many visitors enjoyed another special treat - their first taste of fresh-roasted chestnuts. UMCA faculty and staff roasted chestnuts harvested from the research farm over a smoking grill as curious onlookers browsed through chestnut recipes and nutritional information. Charlie NovoGradac and Debbie Milks of Chestnut Charlie’s Orchard of Lawrence, Kan., offered bags of chestnuts and roasting pans for sale. The event also raised awareness for locally grown black walnut and pecan, favorite flavors served in ice cream made by Buck’s Ice Cream and featured in a variety of snacks from Hammons Products Company of Stockton, Mo.
"We’re excited about the consumer interest emerging for these nuts and for the production of value-added products, such as jellies and candies that contain the nuts," said Julie Rhoads, event coordinator.
Pine straw mulch, a new research focus of UMCA,
generated many questions from guests and provided
opportunities to educate landowners about this emerging
market.
The Chestnut Roast offered family fun in the form of bluegrass and country swing music by the "Rank Sinatras." Inside the Children’s Activities Tent, agricultural education mixed with fun as children enjoyed face painting, pumpkin painting and a large farm model displayed by the University of Missouri Extension Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture Program. A hay bale maze outside the Children’s Tent became a favorite resting place as families enjoyed the day.
Guests at the Chestnut Roast also enjoyed the opportunity to study the exterior of the historic 1819 Thomas Hickman House, one of the oldest brick houses still standing in Missouri. Gene Garrett, director, Center for Agroforestry, expressed the Center’s enthusiasm for the event. "As we welcomed the community to enjoy the ongoing projects of the Center, we were taken aback by the interest level, both from landowners and families," Garrett said. "We will continue to offer opportunities like this to generate awareness for agroforestry practices and the products that can be harvested through them."
* UMCA 2004 Chestnut Roast - Saturday, Oct. 16th - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Horticulture & Agroforestry Research Center (HARC)
New Franklin, MO - Free Admission