The University of Mount Olive recently hosted its 7th Annual AgFest event to promote and celebrate awareness of agriculture and other academic opportunities. The event was attended by more than 1,600 FFA students and 200 advisors from 74 schools across North Carolina. The fair-like format offered attendees 60 educational booths along with a variety of fun activities including a mechanical bull, lagoon doom, caricaturist, chicken slinging bingo, and more. 

Representatives from agricultural companies and organizations from across the region and state interactively engaged with students to spark their interests in careers, Supervised Agricultural Experiences and even some Career Development Events topics.

Attendees participated in hands-on learning experiences in production agriculture, animal science, horticulture, landscaping, wildlife, forestry and natural resources, provided by some of the largest agribusinesses in the region. Experiences included virtual reality, precision agriculture technology and equipment, livestock showing demonstrations, and other exciting booths.

For those students with interests outside the field of agriculture, there were demonstrations and booths highlighting education, biology, math, physics, and more. Although the threat of heavy winds and rain cut the day short, attendees still enjoyed musical performances by Carolina Sound, and the UMO Men’s and Women’s Choirs.