Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture Hosts First Field Day on DCB Campus

On September 24th, 2021 the Entrepreneurial Center for Horticulture held its first interactive field day on the Dakota College Campus. This field day was a very much anticipated day as the COVID pandemic had initially postponed the original event in 2020.
Funds were used from some of the grants that have been awarded to Dakota College at Bottineau.

Snacks and beverages were provided by Sodexo and campus dean, Dr. Migler, opened the morning by providing a welcome and introduction to the participants. Following the welcome, Keith Knudson, Apryl Mawby and Gourav Kumar assisted in the tour of the campus which included the various high tunnels, composting activities, the wash and pack facility, hemp research plots, the community orchard, along with different NRCS practices that can be applied to small and specialty crop farms.

After lunch, the participants were broken up into two small groups; one group designated for Hemp sessions and one group designated for Horticulture sessions. The Horticulture participants learned about composting practices, Integrated Pest Management and FARRMS (Foundation for Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability). The Hemp participants learned about production and processing of hemp products as well as learning about laws and regulations regarding growing hemp in the state of North Dakota. Following the sessions, the participants had the option of going to Aspen Hills Farm where Keith Knudson is conducting hemp trials with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

The field day was a huge success thanks to all who agreed to be speakers, those who worked on facilitating and organizing the day, and to the participants who took time out of their normal routine to spend time with the ECH Department. The field day was the start of an annual event which is already being planned for next year!