Kernza Field Day, July 17 at ROCORI High School

ROCORI FFA Field Day

Date: July 17, 2021

Time: 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. .

Location: ROCORI Test Plot (located north of ROCORI High School, 534 5th Ave., N, Cold Spring)

About the Field Day:

For the first time ever, an FFA chapter in central MN has grown a 16-acre plot of Kernza and will showcase their efforts during an upcoming field day. The event, planned for July 17 from 9:30 am to 1pm at the Rocori High School campus, will highlight the economic and environmental benefits of this novel cash cover crop.

Kernza is a new domesticated grain originating from a forage grass called intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) and is a cousin of wheat. As a perennial crop it offers year-round soil cover, helping farmers reduce soil erosion and protect streams, lakes, and groundwater from potential contamination.

"There are many FFA chapters who have test plots and plant a variety of garden vegetables, corn, soybeans, or a mixture of those,” said Tamara Berger, ROCORI agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. “When deciding on the possibilities of what to plant, Kernza stood out as an opportunity to open members and students’ eyes to what agriculture has to offer. We could look at the positive benefits it has on the soil and water quality, discuss how we can use it in livestock feed, experiment with it in different baking recipes, and look at the overall plant itself and how it can be improved for farmers in the future."

This community event will include presentations on the development of Kernza, how it positively impacts groundwater quality with its deep root system, demonstrations and samples of food applications as a quality food grade grain ingredient and how the FFA used Kernza in the classroom for educational purposes. There will also be public tours of the growing plot and discussions with regional ag producers, university scientists and conservation experts on how Kernza can benefit the food and agriculture industry.

"The idea to plant Kernza in our plot came from a member of our alumni,” said Tyler Ratka, a ROCORI FFA member. “Through her job she has been helping to develop it and was able to get us on the right track with finding the seed and cooperating with partners working on the crop. Kernza is very meaningful to us and Cold Spring because its long roots pull nitrates out of the ground which creates better drinking water. It is also different from other FFA plots because many of them are corn or soybeans. This means that we are able to stand out from the rest and learn about this new crop. "

To learn more about this upcoming community event, contact:

Tamara Berger, ROCORI Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor, 760-500-0245, bergert@rocori.k12.mn.us

Bob Sabo, President of the Rocori FFA Alumni and Supporters, 320-249-6993, bob.sabo1027@gmail.com

Jen Wagner-Lahr, Sr. Director of Commercialization, AURI, 612-618-2194, jwagner@auri.org

About FFA

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. It develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success.

Members are future chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and premier professionals in many career fields.

FFA is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education.