CLC Hosts Annual Field Day at Ag and Energy Center in Staples | Lakeland News

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Central Lakes College hosted its annual Field Day at the Ag and Energy Center in Staples last Friday, drawing hundreds of attendees including farmers, agricultural professionals, families, and community members. The event serves as a vital platform for the agricultural community to showcase current research, technology, and educational initiatives taking place at one of the state's top agricultural centers. Organizers emphasized that the center operates with three primary goals: driving economic development, advancing irrigation technologies through grant-funded projects, and serving as an education hub that connects agriculture to the environment and the food chain. A major highlight of the day was the unveiling of the new Legacy Ag Trail, a collaborative project involving CLC, the Ag Energy Research Center, CLC Construction, and the City of Staples. This trail aims to educate the public on the importance of local agriculture, its role in job creation, and how it enhances community life. Attendees expressed amazement at discovering cutting-edge research happening right in their backyard, noting that such events help residents understand the financial benefits and unique identity that a thriving agricultural sector brings to small communities in central Minnesota. The Field Day offered families and farmers an up-close look at hands-on research and emerging farming technologies, providing a glimpse into what modern agriculture could look like in the future. Local stakeholders highlighted how the center's work, particularly its leadership in producing dark red kidney beans, directly benefits the regional farming community by putting them on the map and fostering economic growth. By continuing to host events like this, the college ensures that both the public and local farmers remain aware of the innovations shaping the industry. Ultimately, the event reinforced the idea that agriculture is deeply intertwined with environmental stewardship and community well-being. Through interactive demonstrations and open dialogue, the organizers successfully bridged the gap between complex agricultural science and everyday understanding. As a non-profit news organization covering the story, Lakeland News encouraged the public to support local journalism by donating to Lakeland PBS, ensuring that these important stories about regional development and education continue to reach the community.

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Central Lakes College in Staples hosted its annual Field Day last Friday. The event gives farmers, agricultural professionals, families, and community members an opportunity to explore current agricultural research, technology, and educational activities taking place at CLC's Ag and Energy Center. Our reporter, Xavier Curry, was at the event and has more. >> With hundreds of people in attendance, Field Day each year is an opportunity for organizations in the agricultural community to showcase the work being done in the industry. CLC's Ag Research Center is one of the top agricultural centers in the state. >> So, we've got three purposes. Economic development is number one. Second of all is in irrigation. Right now, we're working with a grant where we can provide producers money. And then beyond that, we're an education center. So, we do a lot of work throughout the year, including this Field Day, to bring groups in to educate them about today's agriculture, how it fits into the environment, and of course, how does it fit into the food chain? >> During Field Day, CLC, in partnership with Ag Energy Research Center, CLC Construction, and the City of Staples unveiled their new Legacy Ag Trail. >> It gives us an opportunity to learn what how important this is to our community, and what it how it provides jobs, and how it provides another aspect of the community for people to enjoy. People need to be educated a little bit more on what this is, and I think by building the trail and having events like this, I think it gives the community an opportunity to learn more about this really important part of our city, but also about our part of the state. >> From hands-on research to new farming technology, CLC's Field Day is giving a closer look to families and farmers of what agriculture could look like in the future. >> I do think that the local farming community benefits from some of the research and the all of the findings. I was really amazed to find cutting-edge research that takes place out here. And I think that's another thing that our community and our area farmers need to continue to be aware of. So, I think the community as a whole benefits financially. It puts us on the map. It gives us some identity, and all those things are good for a small community in the center of Minnesota. >> Reporting in Staples, I'm Xavier Curry, Lakeland News. >> CLC's Ag and Energy Center is one of the leading providers of dark red kidney beans in the state. >> Lakeland News is a non-profit news organization. Donate to Lakeland PBS today to support your local news team.