Exhibit Hall
On the main level of the building, a large exhibit hall will showcase several museum-quality exhibits. Educational staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and lead tours.
Exhibit topics will include:
- Crops and their uses
- The role of plant breeding and genetics in agriculture
- Conservation practices
- Integration of crops and livestock
- Role of agriculture in today’s society
- Other contemporary agricultural topics
There will be a special exhibit on Thomas Jefferson, his farm, contributions and views on both agriculture and gardening.
Reading Room
The main floor will include a reading room, where visitors of all ages can enjoy books and magazines on farming and gardening.
Classrooms
Four classrooms will be available for programs with youth and adult audiences. School groups touring the facility will have an opportunity for hands-on, interactive educational sessions on seeds, crops, farm animals, conservation and many other topics that link to their school curriculum.
Teaching Greenhouse
Our teaching greenhouse will allow students and other visitors to see a variety of crop plants at various growth stages anytime of the year. The greenhouse will be attached to our Visitor Education Complex for comfortable all-weather access.
Children's Garden
A sizeable children’s garden will display plants of importance in agriculture and horticulture. Although it will be geared specifically to children, its walking paths and signs will provide an interesting and enjoyable stroll for people of all ages.
The focus of the garden will be to help children understand:
- The many different forms plants can take
- Ways that we benefit from plants
- How a variety of plants are used
Various sections of the garden will demonstrate food crops, fiber crops, plants fed to livestock and other types of economically important plants. To accomplish this, a special emphasis will be placed on selecting plants that capture a child’s interest through sight and touch.
Discovery Stream
This area, to be located between the Children’s Garden and MFA Children’s Barn, will be fun for kids as it will be designed for wading and exploration.