Sheridan Research and Extension Center Field Day July 20

Horse and tractor harrowing, and an antique tractor show will blend with research projects and the 125-year history of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station during the Sheridan Research and Extension Center (ShREC) field day Wednesday, July 20.

This year’s field day is at the Wyarno station site at 663 Wyarno Road east of Sheridan, says Brian Mealor, ShREC director. Mealor and Frank Galey, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming, will begin introductions at 3 p.m.

Research tours and information from 3:30-5 p.m. include historic vs. contemporary wheat varieties; native and introduced grasses for forage and reclamation; cheatgrass management and restoration, including cheatgrass-suppressive bacteria; biotechnology and modern horticulture; and a 100-year review of weather information at the site by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There also are researcher/student poster sessions.

RSVPs for the 5:30 p.m. buffet dinner are requested by July 15; contact Rochelle Koltiska at (307) 673-2856 or shrec@uwyo.edu.

During dinner, UW Extension horticulturist Karen Panter will present vegetable and ornamental plant seed-saving information, and David Kruger, agricultural liaison librarian with UW Libraries, will give a 125-year history of the Agricultural Experiment Station and 101 years at the Wyarno site -- and how the two are an integral part of Sheridan County.

The horse and tractor harrowing, and antique tractor show are 6:45-8 p.m.

ShREC is one of four research and extension centers under the direction of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station at UW. Others are at Laramie and near Lingle and Powell.