On Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Virginia State University College of Agriculture hosted their 3rd Annual AgFest event that honors the agriculture community.
AgFest 2025 was located on the avenue in front of Foster Hall and in the quad area behind the building. It was open to K-12 students, in addition to the VSU student population, faculty and staff.
This event featured a variety of vendors and sights to see such as a farmer’s market, interactive exhibits, culinary delights, a fashion showcase, educational insights, music and dance performances, and close encounters with small farm animals.
Virginia State University values their contribution to the agriculture community, Randolph Farm, located just off of the main campus, has an impact on the community. 416 acres of land is not any typical farm; it is a key player that makes VSU a proud land-grant university.
Caleb Pines is a junior Hyper Culture Major with an environmental concentration. At AgFest Pines worked on planting seeds in pots at one of the exhibits. He explained the ins and outs of an Alligator Plant, to those who did not know it even existed.
“The Alligator Plant is the Mother of Thousands; it’s pretty tropical and it keeps growing year round,” Pines said. “It grows really fast, you can see it’s touching a foot in a half. It’s doing pretty well. It likes to thrive in temperatures from 70 to 85 degrees, and it really likes the warmth. I know if it gets a little cold you know it might slow down, but it never stops growing that’s what I love about The Mother of Thousands.”
Pines also speaks on the mechanics of what The Alligator Plant does. This plant helps the agricultural community stay safe from any bacteria.
“The Alligator plant is used for cuts, and if you have burns and things like that. It’s very good for that, and the Alligator plant is also a symbol for fertility in it’s native region,” Pines said.
In another area three small pens were set up with farm animals including Myotonic goats, Barbados Black Belly sheep and Angora rabbits. Graduate Javin Davis, informed the community about the goats and sheep.
In connection with the animals Davis explained what services and research he provides for the animals. He said that the sheep actually have an extensive shedding process to make collection of the wool much easier. Ultimately the livestock are sold in markets to butchers.
“We actually have a mobile processor unit, Slaughterhouse on Wheels,” Davis said.
Davis explained how the mobile processor unit works. The department has a professor who teaches farmers and students how to process the animals.
In addition to the classroom instruction that the College of Agriculture provides, the school has secured grants in the past to create a farmer’s market. At AgFest they were able to create one to mark the beginning of the season.
Dr. Nartea with the College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Department, explained how the farmer’s market helps students learn about agriculture in a non-traditional way.
The Farmer’s Market expanded the range of the products for VSU students on what they like to see and bring to their dorm. This is why the students like to see local businesses in Petersburg, it brings warmth to them.
“Our coffee person does all of his own roasting. He and his brother are in Chesterfield, so it’s local and he serves local products you know,” Dr. Nartea said. “This market is just something that brings a lot of life and warmth to our school.”
As AgFest 2025 ended with entertainment, learning, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities. VSU showed that this was deeper than planting on a farm, this event helped the community grow together in knowledge and appreciation. This was just the beginning of what is to come for the agricultural community.
Faculty and students continue to celebrate agriculture because that is where all things begin: fabric, the soap you wash with, the lip balm… all of the good stuff you have… it all begins with a plant and animal in AG.
