Educational Outreach at the Harvest Moon Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In October 2013, University of Arkansas (UA) Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (CSES) undergraduate student club hosted an educational outreach booth at the annual Harvest Moon Festival held at Happy Hollow Elementary School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Club members interacted with approximately 170 students and their families. As part of its continued educational and outreach efforts, UA CSES club members will again participate in the Harvest Moon Festival in October 2014. Displays will include a game of match the seed to the plant and then to the row crop food product or horticultural fruit grown in Arkansas. A hands-on soil texture activity highlighting the different soil textures found throughout the state provides a tangible introduction to the complexity of soil. A display on food waste composting will also be given to demonstrate sustainable solutions to complex problems like food waste disposal. The goal of this project is to educate and inform elementary age students and their families about the importance of crops, soils, and sustainable practices used throughout the agricultural community. These practices offer a practical solution for a changing environment, and this demonstration will highlight the importance of Arkansas’ natural resources, products, and sustainable practices.