New crops and new events planned for the next year as farm pushes for more community involvement.
The upcoming academic year should be an eventful one at East Texas A&M University’s Twin Oaks Farm for Experiential Learning, with several new crops and opportunities for education and community engagement taking root.
Known by many as “The Blueberry Farm,” Twin Oaks is expanding its offerings far beyond just a source of the delicious berries. The land was purchased by the university in 2010 and has been the site of many events open to the public.
Starting from scratch
Over the past 15 years, thousands of guests have roamed the rows of blueberry bushes on hot summer days, searching for the freshest berries on the university farm. However, due to too many trees and other unwanted plants invading the space, the farm removed the blueberry bushes in the summer of 2024 to clear out the entire area and start anew. While a few other crops like blackberries and pecans were also available, losing the blueberries was a significant change, as it was the defining feature of the farm to many.
Dr. Grace Ogden, assistant professor of agronomy at East Texas A&M, became the faculty advisor for the farm that summer and immediately went to work on revamping and revitalizing operations. Part of this process included transitioning the farm to focus more on student research and teaching.
“We’re looking to provide a space where we can help students acquire skills and expertise that will make them great candidates for working in any agricultural field,” Ogden said. “We also provide employment opportunities for students while they’re here to help keep the farm running smoothly.”
Ogden says that the new crops planted at the farm will greatly enhance students’ educational opportunities and allow them to get their hands dirty with a wide range of tasks, such as planting, cultivation, pest control, harvesting and farm management.
A variety of crops
Many new crops are growing in the fields and will be ready to showcase soon. In Fall 2024, the farm held a successful pumpkin drive to begin composting for a crop of pumpkins set to debut later this year. Additionally, students planted grape vines, multiple vegetable varieties, and will add wheat, sorghum and corn to the fields in the near future. Plans are in place to establish a small storefront on the farm, with the initial vision to open one to two days a week during peak growing seasons.
But even with all that, the farm won’t go on too long without its staple crop.
“We’ve replanted the blueberry bushes–42 to be exact–with more coming in the fall,” Ogden said. “This was also made possible thanks to a generous donation of 17 bushes by Red River Outdoor Living, the university’s groundskeeping contractor.”
While the new blueberry bushes hadn’t matured in time for picking this summer, they are expected to make a partial return in 2026 with u-pick events open to the community. While it may take a few more years to reach full u-pick capacity, that’s not all that the farm has to look forward to, Ogden said.
“We have also received a donated beehive, and we plan to start producing honey for sale as well,” she said. Another prospective addition to Twin Oaks is chickens, as a means of offering fresh eggs. “We are positioning Twin Oaks to be a source of a variety of locally grown produce and other food items.”
Looking ahead
Upcoming events at Twin Oaks include a volunteer day on September 6 and a fall social planned for October 25, which will include hayrides, crafts and plenty more for guests to enjoy.
Overall, Ogden says Twin Oaks is pushing to be more visible in the community.
“A big goal for us is to increase public engagement and let people know what we’re doing out here,” she said. “We’d love to be a place not only for students to gain valuable knowledge and skills, but also for people outside the university looking for fresh, locally grown food.”
For more information on upcoming events at Twin Oaks, contact Grace Ogden.
Article source: Ryan Scott – East Texas A&M Marketing and Communications
