September 09, 2016

FarmScape at Ballpark Village offers Missourians an opportunity to ask experts about modern agriculture

Family friendly, free event includes livestock, farm equipment, youth activities and live music.

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture will bring the farm to downtown St. Louis for the second annual FarmScape at St. Louis Ballpark Village, presented by Anheuser-Busch. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, a Ballpark Village parking lot next to Busch Stadium will be transformed into a showcase of modern Missouri agriculture.  

At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly to Missouri men and women who grow and raise food. In the Meet a Missouri Farmer booth presented by Monsanto and the Osborn Barr Livestock Barn, attendees are encouraged to ask farmers questions about modern farming practices like GMOs, antibiotic use, pesticides, animal care and environmental stewardship. Farmers from across the state who raise soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, hogs, cattle and poultry will be available throughout the day.

“We want to share the real story behind agriculture at FarmScape,” said Director of Agriculture Richard Fordyce. “Just because a farm is big doesn’t mean it’s corporate. Using technology like variable rate application and biotech crops is producing food more efficiently, more safely, and more environmentally friendly. Missouri farmers are doing things the right way and they’ll be on hand to share their stories and answer questions.” 

FarmScape offers visitors a chance to escape to the farm for a day. Farm animals, tractors, Missouri Grown products and live crops will be on display to showcase farm life. Providing a glimpse of the life of a livestock farmer, the Osborn Barr Livestock Barn will include beef and dairy cows, sheep, goats, pigs and draft horses. The FCS Financial and Mizzou College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Youth Zone will provide entertainment for children with interactive and educational stations including a trailer filled with corn and toy tractors, face painting, a coloring station and a milking cow. Cornelius Cob (a.k.a. Corny), a seven foot tall, animated, talking corn cob will be on-site sharing interesting ag facts and corny jokes. A variety of farm equipment will be placed around the grounds as well. SoulRoot, featuring music from every genre, will take the stage at 12 p.m. as a warm-up to the main event, a full-blown country-rock concert by Broseph E. Lee at 2 p.m. 

Missouri food will be available for sampling and purchase in the Missouri Grown Farmers’ Market. The Trailer Swift photo booth will provide a fun backdrop for a commemorative photo. Giveaways like tractor stress balls and Prairie Farms ice cream will be available to the first 500 attendees.  

For more information about FarmScape at St. Louis Ballpark Village, visit the Department of Agriculture online at agriculture.mo.gov or STLBallparkVillage.com

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