A Fresh Perspective: Student-led farm cultivates learning, builds community

MSU students plant the first seedlings at the student farm within MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences while Pawel Orlinski, plant and soil sciences instructor, looks on. (Photo by David Ammon)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—��Ƶ’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recently planted the first seeds on its new experiential student farm.

Located near the A.B. McKay Enology Laboratory and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s R.R. Foil Plant Science Research Center, the farm is immersing students in sustainable agriculture, design education and modern food production, preparing them for diverse careers through hands-on learning and community engagement.

“At ��Ƶ, we’re creating opportunities for students to engage with the land, connect with the food web that sustains us locally and globally, and make farming and food cultivation part of their everyday lives. By fostering hands-on learning and access to resources, we’re empowering students to cultivate their own food and understand the vital connections between soil health and food security,” said Scott Willard, CALS dean and MAFES director.

The developing farm supports multiple programs, including horticulture, landscape architecture, and nutrition. Future plans include working with MSU Dining Services partner Aramark to bring fresh, student-grown produce to campus dining and donating produce to Bully’s Pantry to support university students facing food insecurity.

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Video by Sarah Kirk

Faculty members, including Assistant Professor Tongyin Li and Instructors Casey Johnson and Pawel Orlinski, are guiding the farm’s development and research. Student managers oversee daily operations and receive compensation. Graduate students conduct research on-site, further enhancing the farm’s educational impact.

The one-acre farm, with plans to expand to two acres, will produce fruits, vegetables and cut flowers sold through MSU’s student-run University Florist. Featuring three greenhouses donated by Quiedan Company of Salinas, California, the farm was established with support from the MAFES research team, led by Keith Daniels.

Abby Pennington, who graduated with a horticulture degree in May, is now a master’s student under Li’s direction and the farm’s first student manager.

“I’m excited to see the farm’s potential realized. I look forward to learning new things and seeing what plants grow and sell best,” she said. “I also hope we can build a community out of the farm as a place where students across campus can come and actively learn and be engaged in research and outreach efforts,” Pennington said.

As the project continues to evolve, MSU’s student farm is poised to become a model of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative teaching and sustainable agriculture.

“We want this farm to be a showcase. We envision it being a place where we host events, invite the broader MSU community and demonstrate what sustainable food production can achieve,” said Cory Gallo, CALS assistant dean and MAFES assistant director.

For more information on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visit . For more on the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, visit .

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