What’s Growing in Our Demonstration Fields This Season
There’s something incredible growing just outside the walls of Food + Farm Exploration Center. Our Demonstration Fields, four one-acre plots located right on our campus, are now fully prepped and planted, showcasing the real work and innovation behind how food is grown in Wisconsin.
These fields are hands-on learning spaces where visitors of all ages can experience agriculture in action. They extend our mission beyond the Center’s walls — because we believe everyone deserves to know where their food comes from.
Planting Red Norland Potatoes
Field Trip to the Demo Fields
Team Checking Planting Distance
From Prep to Planting: The Growing Season So Far
Preparation began early this year with tillage starting on April 15, timed for our first planting of Red Norland potatoes. Thanks to hard work from our operations team and dedicated volunteers — and some precision ag tools — planting has gone smoothly.
Here’s what’s growing right now:
Peas – Donated by Seneca Foods
Green Beans – Two varieties, including wax and Huntington, donated by Del Monte
Sweet Corn – Bicolor fresh-market variety
Cucumbers – From Bejo Seeds, with more plantings to come
Potatoes – Red Norland from Worzella & Sons, Fontaine & Jelly from GP Ventures, Goldrush from McCain, and Blushing Belle from Little Potato Company, plus a special variety you’ll have to stay tuned to learn about
Another round of cucumbers and green beans will be planted in early July to ensure a staggered harvest and maximize educational opportunities through the summer and early fall.
Thanks to this year’s ideal conditions, our potato crops are thriving, and the peas are looking especially lush — which means you can expect a bumper crop during our upcoming community harvest days.
Agriculture Meets Innovation
This year’s fieldwork is powered by the same innovations real farmers use every day. Our planting was completed with a high-tech precision planter from Swiderski, guided by GPS steering to place every seed exactly where it belongs. Our irrigation systems aren’t just efficient — they’re engineered for variable-rate watering to deliver the right amount of moisture to each zone.
We're also “spoon-feeding” nutrients through an advanced fertilizer injection system, ensuring healthy plant growth while minimizing waste. The seed varieties we’ve planted represent the cutting edge of global breeding programs, selected for resilience, yield, and reduced environmental inputs. Even our pest and disease management tools reflect the latest science, using targeted approaches that protect crops without harming pollinators or other beneficial insects.
It’s all part of showing that today’s agriculture is smart, sustainable, and future-focused — and we want you to experience it for yourself.
Mark Your Calendar for U-Pick Harvest Days
Get ready to join us in the fields. Our U-Pick Harvest Days offer free, family-friendly opportunities to harvest fresh produce, learn something new, and connect with the story behind your food.
Save the dates:
Tuesday, July 8
Tuesday, August 5
Tuesday, September 3
Please note: Harvest dates will depend on weather conditions. Like all farmers, we need the right mix of rain and sun.
Each U-Pick event is completely free to attend and thanks to generous supporters, like WOW – WE CARE CHARITY, INC. we’re expanding what we offer at these events. In addition to hands-on harvesting, our team is planning extra fun: bounce houses, educational booths, and visits from our partners to celebrate harvest season. There’s something for everyone, so make sure you join us!
Ready to dig in?
Mark your calendar and bring a friend to our next U-Pick Harvest Day Event — where you’ll learn, grow, and harvest right alongside us.