Events
SOLD OUT Youth Tractor and Farm Safety Course
Sign up for the Portage County Tractor and Farm Safety course for an in-depth training on the expectations of farm work along with basics of agricultural safety & hazards. Provides requirements for state and federal certification. Open to learners 12-16 years old.
SOLD OUT Summer Camp: Cultural Cooking, 2-5 Grade
Kids are invited to enjoy Cultural Cooking, a unique mini-camp experience for 2nd-5th graders! Each day we’ll dig into something new, enjoy hands-on activities, explore the exhibits, and savor a snack together.
Story Time | United Way Summer Sizzle Series
Join us for a free children’s story time thanks to the United Way’s Summer Sizzle program! Enjoy a great story and special activities with our education team.
Farm Fresh Placement Drop-In Activity
Color your own placemats with five different options: Wisconsin focus crops, plant growing cycle, pollinators, technology in agriculture and soil health!
Farm Fresh Placement Drop-In Activity
Color your own placemats with five different options: Wisconsin focus crops, plant growing cycle, pollinators, technology in agriculture and soil health!
Farm Fresh Placement Drop-In Activity
Color your own placemats with five different options: Wisconsin focus crops, plant growing cycle, pollinators, technology in agriculture and soil health!
Farm Fresh Placement Drop-In Activity
Color your own placemats with five different options: Wisconsin focus crops, plant growing cycle, pollinators, technology in agriculture and soil health!
Spud of the Month: Potato Knish
Learn to make Potato Knish at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
SOLD OUT Summer Camp: Cultural Cooking, 6-8 Grade
Kids are invited to enjoy Cultural Cooking, a unique mini-camp experience for 6th-8th graders! Each day we’ll dig into something new, enjoy hands-on activities, explore the exhibits, and savor a snack together.
Celebrate Plover
Come see us at the Celebrate Plover Business Expo for a chance to win a picture-perfect day prize package, have fun testing your agricultural knowledge, and take home some freebies!
Exploring Chardonnay Wine MSTC Class
Explore wines made from Chardonnay from different states, countries and preparations. Enjoy a tasting of the wide varieties of these white wines along with delicious cheese pairings.
SOLD OUT Pierogi Cooking Class
Learn to make these traditional Polish dumplings along with various sauces to put a new twist on a classic.
Spud of the Month: Potato Gnocchi
Learn to make Potato Gnocchi at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
Center & Café Closed for Special Event
Food + Farm Exploration Center and Colorful Plate Café will be closed to the public for a private event. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Asian Style Appetizers MSTC Class
Get hands-on experience with some of the most popular Asian-style appetizers: fresh Vietnamese-style spring rolls and Chinese crab rangoons. Prepare a dozen spring rolls and learn to fold the perfect rangoon.
U-Pick Harvest Day TENTATIVE
Join us to pick your own free, fresh produce from our demonstration farm fields! Come learn, explore, and celebrate the hard-working people and processes that feed our communities.
Professional Development Day for Teachers
Enjoy this special teacher professional development DAY designed to illustrate the processes involved in producing food and getting it to your dinner table. Help your students connect agriculture to classroom learning and real-world situations.
Royal Icing Cookie Decorating MSTC Class
Turn a plain cookie into a sweet masterpiece in this class. Learn how to pipe, flood, and add eye-catching details. You’ll make six beautifully decorated cookies.
Summer Camp: Ready, Set, Grow!
Kids are invited to enjoy “Ready, Set, Grow!” a unique mini-camp experience! Each day we’ll dig into something new, enjoy hands-on activities, explore the exhibits, and savor a snack together.
Cookbook Club Cooking Class “Wisconsin Field to Fork”
Explore farm-fresh recipes and stories from local Wisconsin farms in our cookbook club reviewing “Wisconsin Field to Fork”. Enjoy demonstrations, samples and a chance to connect on some of the best recipes!
Spud of the Month: Potatoes Romanoff
Learn to make Potatoes Romanoff at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
Spud of the Month: African Potato Fufu
Learn to make African Potato Fufu at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
Spud of the Month: Patatas Bravas
Learn to make Patatas Bravas at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
Spud of the Month: Potatoes in Cookies
Learn to add potatoes into delicious cookies to freshen up the holiday spread at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
U-Pick Harvest Day
Join us to pick your own free, fresh produce from our demonstration farm fields! Come learn, explore, and celebrate the hard-working people and processes that feed our communities.
Spuddy Buddy Drop-In Activity
Build your own spuddy buddy in this special drop-in activity! Keep them as a reminder of our upcoming U-Pick day.
Spuddy Buddy Drop-In Activity
Build your own spuddy buddy in this special drop-in activity! Keep them as a reminder of our upcoming U-Pick day.
Corn Dip Cooking Demo Drop-In
Make your own delicious corn dip in this free drop-in event. Enjoy a tasty snack with corn chips and take a recipe card home to make again!
Exploring Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Wines from the French Rhone Region MSTC Class
Explore the different wines made from Syrah and Petit Sirah. Taste and learn about the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines from the French Rhone Region and other unique wines with various cheeses.
Spuddy Buddy Drop-In Activity
Build your own spuddy buddy in this special drop-in activity! Keep them as a reminder of our upcoming U-Pick day.
Build-a-Bug Activity Drop-In
Build your own bug to celebrate National Pollinators Month in this special drop-in activity! Learn about all the parts of a bug and how they help plants grow.
Build-a-Bug Activity Drop-In
Build your own bug to celebrate National Pollinators Month in this special drop-in activity! Learn about all the parts of a bug and how they help plants grow.
Build-a-Bug Activity Drop-In
Build your own bug to celebrate National Pollinators Month in this special drop-in activity! Learn about all the parts of a bug and how they help plants grow.
CANCELED Introduction to Wine MSTC Class
Learn the basics of wine, wine tasting, wine and food pairing, and how to purchase a bottle of wine with confidence all while having fun.
Build-a-Bug Activity Drop-In
Build your own bug to celebrate National Pollinators Month in this special drop-in activity! Learn about all the parts of a bug and how they help plants grow.
Suncatchers Activity Drop-In
Make your own suncatcher in this free drop-in event. Learn more about how sun changes the way plants grow and take home a masterpiece to enjoy over the sunny summer!
CANCELED Introduction to White and Red Wines MSTC Class
Participants will learn how to read a wine label, the meaning of vintage, varietal, new world and old-world wines. Taste five wines with a delicious cheese pairing.
Suncatchers Activity Drop-In
Make your own suncatcher in this free drop-in event. Learn more about how sun changes the way plants grow and take home a masterpiece to enjoy over the sunny summer!
Suncatchers Activity Drop-In
Make your own suncatcher in this free drop-in event. Learn more about how sun changes the way plants grow and take home a masterpiece to enjoy over the sunny summer!
CANCELED Asian Style Appetizers MSTC Class
Get hands-on experience with some of the most popular Asian-style appetizers: fresh Vietnamese-style spring rolls and Chinese crab rangoons. Prepare a dozen spring rolls and learn to fold the perfect rangoon.
Suncatchers Activity Drop-In
Make your own suncatcher in this free drop-in event. Learn more about how sun changes the way plants grow and take home a masterpiece to enjoy over the sunny summer!
Summer Camp: Weather Wizards
Kids are invited to enjoy Weather Wizards, a unique mini-camp experience! Each day we’ll dig into something new, enjoy hands-on activities, explore the exhibits, and savor a snack together.
CANCELED Royal Icing Cookie Decorating MSTC Class
Turn a plain cookie into a sweet masterpiece in this class. Learn how to pipe, flood, and add eye-catching details. You’ll make six beautifully decorated cookies.
Veggie Hand Prints Activity Drop-In
Make your own veggie hand prints in this free drop-in event. Learn more about our Wisconsin crops and get a little messy in our Makerspace.
SOLD OUT Tamale & Mole Sauce Cooking Class
Learn how to make tamales and master a delicious mole sauce that is customized to your tastes.
Veggie Hand Prints Activity Drop-In
Make your own veggie hand prints in this free drop-in event. Learn more about our Wisconsin crops and get a little messy in our Makerspace.
Veggie Hand Prints Activity Drop-In
Make your own veggie hand prints in this free drop-in event. Learn more about our Wisconsin crops and get a little messy in our Makerspace.
Toolbox for Tots with Pasture Chic Designs
Bring your kids to build and paint their own toolbox! Perfect activity for Father’s Day or any young craftsman in the making.
Spud of the Month: German Potato Dumplings
Learn to make German Potato Dumplings at the Spud of the Month social club! Enjoy a cooking demo, snacks, cocktails (or mocktails) plus great company. Attend multiple events for a chance to win a gift basket.
Suncatcher Droplet Workshop with Sassy Glassers
Join us for a fun and creative workshop where you’ll craft your very own stunning suncatcher. Come learn a new skill and create a new work of art that will shine with radiance in any space.
SOLD OUT Pierogi Cooking Class
Learn to make these traditional Polish dumplings along with various sauces to put a new twist on a classic.
Tot Time Week 4
Dig into the world of agriculture with our 4-week Tot Time kids' program focusing on peas! Enjoy open exploration in our Seedlings gallery, educational activities throughout the exploration center, and a delicious snack.
Sauté Meat Tenderizing MSTC Class (Culinary Skills Series)
Learn how to perfectly sauté different meats. Participants will then create their own sautéed meat to enjoy!
Tot Time Week 3
Dig into the world of agriculture with our 4-week Tot Time kids' program focusing on peas! Enjoy open exploration in our Seedlings gallery, educational activities throughout the exploration center, and a delicious snack.