UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The annual Harvest Fest on the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 14. Campus and community members are invited to spend an evening learning about the farm and celebrating the fall season.

Free and open to the public, the event will feature a musical performance by local musicians Tyne and the Fastlyne, food samples provided by local chefs and caterers, including Taproot Kitchen, Paul’s Provisions and the Penn State Housing and Food Services chefs, as well as the Village at Penn State and State College Area High School.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi will provide opening remarks at 5 p.m.

Visitors can plant their own succulents for $5 (free for Penn State students with an ID). Non-students can pay succulent fees with cash or check. Activities also include sun-printing, live music and the opportunity to learn about the new multi-purpose facility on the farm. Student Farm Club merchandise will be available for purchase.

Guests are encouraged to utilize sustainable transportation options to get to the event:

• Free event buses will run continuously from the Berkey Creamery bus pull-off on Curtin Road to the farm between 3:45 and 7:15 p.m.
• The Student Farm is partnering with SPIN to offer $10 in future ride credits to anyone using a SPIN bike to the farm between 2:45 and 7:15 p.m. New users can use the code FREEFIVE for a $5 credit on their initial ride.
• CATA H and HU routes stop close to the farm and run according to CATA schedules.
• Limited parking next to the farm is available.

Harvest Fest is planned by a group of student leaders who collaborate with a variety of organizations and partners throughout the year. Katie Seidel, a junior studying environmental engineering, noted that this collaborative spirit is crucial to a successful event.

“The collaboration between interns, Student Farm Club members and other campus organizations is amazing to see,” Seidel said. “With all of us working together, we get to learn from one another while engaging the community in a positive way. We hope everyone will take the time to come out and enjoy the farm with us.”

For more information about the Ross Student Farm, visit the website or email studentfarm@psu.edu.

About the Sustainable Food Systems Program at Penn State 

The Sustainable Food Systems Program includes the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, Student Farm Club, Course-Client Collaborations and the affiliated inter-college Food Systems Minor program. The goal of the program is to develop students’ knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices while providing hands-on learning opportunities and positively contributing to the community.