A man is demonstrating a field trial to a group of people at the Stiles Farm in Thrall.
The public will learn more about insect and weed control, the best barbecue techniques, profitable fertilizer decision making and youth agricultural safety during the June 11 Stiles Farm Field day in Thrall. (Blair Fannin/Texas A&M AgriLife)

The public is invited to learn more about the best barbecue techniques, profitable fertilizer decision making and youth agricultural safety at this year’s Stiles Farm Field Day on June 11 in Thrall.

Hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the event will be from 4:15-8:15 p.m.  at the Stiles Farm Foundation, 5700 Farm-to Market Road 1063. No pre-registration is required. In-person registration begins at 4:15 p.m.

Two Texas Department of Agriculture general continuing education units will be available for private pesticide applicator license holders. A catered dinner will be provided by local agribusiness sponsors.

Agriculture and fire safety demonstrations for area youth

Ryan Collett, Stiles Farm Foundation manager, Thrall, said a new youth agricultural safety component will be included at this year’s field day.

The program will feature an all-terrain vehicle and tractor safety course, fire safety demonstrations by the Williamson County Emergency Services District 10 firefighters and a make and take plant project by the Williamson County Master Gardeners.

“There have been a number of unfortunate accidents with ATVs and other equipment in our region over the last few years, so working with the AgriLife Extension office in Williamson County, we decided to host a concurrent program for youth at the same time as our traditional farm tour,” he said.

A water slide and snow cone machine will be available during the safety program, and youth are encouraged to bring swimwear and sunscreen.

Field tour agenda

The producer-focused farm tour will begin loading at 5:15 p.m. onto air-conditioned buses provided by the Thrall Independent School District and will stop at four locations. Topics include:

  • Fat up or fat down? What every Texan needs to know about BBQ — Jeffrey W. Savell, Ph.D., vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
  • Where the rubber meets the road: Soil and planter equipment interactions and profitable fertilizer decision making — Tony Provin, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist, and AgriLife Extension Soil and Water Testing Laboratory director and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
  • John Deere See and Spray technology demonstration — Kyle Lanier, test supervisor, John Deere, Austin.
  • Lessons learned from current growing season: Insect and weed control management in grain — Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.

Following the tour, Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, will provide a grain market update during the catered dinner.

The Williamson County Farm Bureau Agriculturist and Agricultural Business Professional of the Year awards, as well as the recipients of the Stiles Farm Scholarships, will be announced during the dinner program.

For more information, contact Collett at 512-898-2214 or at [email protected].

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