���ϳԹ���

The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences invites all community members to participate in a new event with the goal of connecting the Brookings area with where their food comes from. Farm to Finish Line and Breakfast on the Farm is a two-part event that will involve a 3.9-mile cross-country style run/walk and an all-welcome breakfast and interactive activities fair on Saturday, Sept. 26.

“As more people are living in town, it’s important for them to still have a connection with agriculture and where their food comes from,” said Allie Arp, race director and director of marketing and communications for the college. “We hope people come out and have a great experience on the farm that resonates with them when they go home and when they’re making food choices in the future.”

Farm to Finish Line

Farm to Finish Line race participants will have an 8 a.m. cowbell start at the Ruminant Nutrition Center north of the SDSU Brookings campus. Next, the race route will go to the Dairy Research and Training Facility and through the dairy barn. They will then travel through pastures surrounded by various crop fields and native plants before going by the SDSU Feed Mill and eventually finishing back at the Ruminant Nutrition Center.

All participants will receive a blue finisher’s ribbon. The top two men’s and women’s finishers in seven age categories will receive a Champion and Reserve Champion ribbon, with the overall Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion in each gender also being awarded. The race and its unique route will give participants the opportunity to see SDSU agriculture research in a way few others have.

“We look forward to welcoming members of the community to our research farms and facilities and show them some of the work we’re doing,” said John Blanton, associate dean of research for the college and director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. “This event provides us a fun, distinctive opportunity to connect people with research being done right here at SDSU.”

Early-bird registration ends on Sept. 12. All who register by Sept. 14 are guaranteed an event T-shirt. Registration is allowed until 7:45 a.m. on race day, but a T-shirt is not guaranteed. .

Breakfast on the Farm

Immediately following the race at 9:30, all community members are invited to take part in a free Breakfast on the Farm event. The SDSU College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, along with the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council and South Dakota Soybean, will have interactive booths set up to allow attendees to learn more about where their food comes from. Set up at the SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center, the activities will include planting seeds, making butter, interacting with farm animals and other fun, educational experiences. No registration is required for this portion of the event.

“We are excited to invite everyone out for a fun morning on the farm,” Blanton said. “Whether you come for the run, the breakfast or just to enjoy the animals and activities, we hope families and community members will spend some time with us and have a good time. We look forward to seeing everyone there.”

More information about both parts of the event can be found here. Questions about Farm to Finish Line, Breakfast on the Farm or the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences can be sent to Allie Arp.

Event schedule

All activities will start and end at the SDSU Ruminant Nutrition Center (3727 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006).

Friday, Sept. 25

• 5:30-7 p.m. – Farm to Finish Line race registration and packet pick up

Saturday, Sept. 26

• 7-7:45 a.m. – Farm to Finish Line race registration and packet pick up
• 8 a.m. – Farm to Finish Line begins with a cowbell start.
• 9:30 a.m.-noon – Breakfast on the Farm