The University of the Virgin Islands School of Agriculture hosted its first Field Day on Sunday at the Agricultural Experiment Station Tractor Pavilion on St. Croix.
The community-focused event aimed to showcase the School of Agriculture’s impactful research, academic programs, and outreach initiatives.
“The Field Day is an educational event intentionally designed to showcase the research and extension work of the School of Agriculture through tours, demonstrations, and exhibits. It is our opportunity to connect with the community and demonstrate the vital role that agriculture plays in the Virgin Islands and beyond,” Dean and Director of the School of Agriculture, Usman Adamu, said.
Guests enjoyed a unique experience by boarding the “Soul Train,” which transported them to various stops around the station. Each stop featured a special presentation highlighting different agricultural projects and research.
Demonstrations included:
- Shade House Experiments
- Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Sorrel, and Jicama USDA Plots
- Agronomy Research with Soil Moisture Sensors
- Watermelon Project
- Avocado Farm
- Companion Planting Experiment
- Vanilla and Sweet Potato Research
An example of companion planting where plants are companioned with each other to see if they thrive together. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Highlights of the event included research displays from the Agricultural Experiment Station, demonstrating how scientific discoveries lead to practical improvements in local and regional agriculture. The Cooperative Extension Service also offered educational outreach, with hands-on activities and information about programs that support community development and lifelong learning.
The event showcased UVI’s academic offerings, including associate and bachelor’s degree programs in agriculture, which are vital for formal education and workforce development in the Virgin Islands.
As part of the event, the School of Agriculture provided an abstract booklet summarizing the school’s research, extension, and teaching efforts. “You have seen it in person; now you can read it in the book of abstracts,” noted organizers.
Examples of articles featured in the abstract booklet include:
- “Sheep and Goat Feeding Strategies for Better Performance and Pastures” — discussing pasture management, ruminant nutrition, and physiology.
- “Light Quality and Temperature Variation and Their Effect on Fruit Set and Fruit Sweetness of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Grown in Colored Shade Houses” — examining factors such as light spectrometry, color effects, laser scanning, thermal imaging, and temperature variations.
Adamu expressed that UVI hopes to make Field Day an annual tradition moving forward. The School of Agriculture, established in 2022, continues to expand its efforts to support the agricultural community.
Amy Dreaves, an extension specialist at the Cooperative Extension Service and a self-proclaimed “pest detective,” spoke about her work with farmers across the territory. “I go out and evaluate people’s farms,” said Dreaves. “I work closely with the farming community as we develop the 12-component program, V.I. Farming for Success. Every day is a new adventure – I either get submissions of insects or conduct site visits.”
For more information about the UVI School of Agriculture, click here.
To view the full coverage of the field day, click here.
