MSU Extension Fall Extension Conference

Below you will find information regarding the Optional Workshops on the Move scheduled for Tuesday, October 15. These optional workshops have varying times so be sure to note the time for your preferred tour. Space is limited on these workshops.

All workshop on the move participants should meet in the Grand Gallery of DeVos Place. From there, groups will either board buses or start their tours on foot. Please plan to arrive to the Grand Gallery 15-20 minutes prior to your tour start time. The time listed below is when the Workshop on the Move will depart.

Please dress accordingly for weather and your specific workshop locations. Some of the workshops have special requirements related to clothing and footwear. No beverages or snacks will be provided on the Workshops on the Move, so please bring whatever you need for the afternoon.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Turkey Tales and Dairy Delights: Value Added Agriculture

11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Celebrate Michigan agriculture and the art of value-added farming. This workshop will take you behind the scenes of premier agricultural endeavors. ry. The workshop will start at the MOO-ville Creamery, renowned for its artisanal dairy products. Tour the farm and see the 200+ milking barn including the robotic milkers in action, pet the baby calves and learn more about baby calves, and learn more about how this family owned and operated farm bottles its own milk, and makes its own ice cream, cheese and butter. After visiting the dairy farm, the tour will visit Michigan Turkey. This grower-owned facility strives to provide nutritious and good tasting, quality turkey products by growing, processing and delivering a consistent, reliable, value-added commodity source for industrial foodservice and retail customers. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how value-added endeavors are shaping the future of farming in Michigan.

• There can be no shorts or short dresses worn. If dresses are worn for religious reasons, then leggings should be worn underneath. No bare feet (socks need to be worn) and no open-toed footwear. Jewelry (except a plain wedding band and medic alert necklace) is not allowed in the plant, they can keep rings with stones and earrings, etc. on their person (in their pockets) during the tour.
• Booties will be available to cover shoes if desired.
• Please dress accordingly for the processing facility and the farm/creamery.

Brewed Awakenings: A Taste of Grand Rapids' Craft Beer and Cider Scene

12:30 - 5 p.m.

Discover why Grand Rapids is nicknamed Beer City USA. Breweries have become popular in communities across the State and Grand Rapids is no exception. This workshop on the move will begin by visiting Founders Brewing Co., one of the top ten largest craft breweries in the country with several beers listed in the top 100 beers of the world on Beeradvocate.com. This guided tour of the downtown Grand Rapids brewing facility will show you the ins and outs of the brewing and packaging process, tell the Founders history and offer a few tastings.

In addition to being internationally acclaimed for its craft beers, Grand Rapids is now earning recognition for its fast-growing production of hard ciders. The second stop on the workshop will be Vander Mill. Using only the best Michigan apples for their ciders, they work with apple farms who grow modern and heirloom cider apples right in West Michigan. Enjoy a behind the scenes look (and tasting) at the cider.

Innovations in Human Health: A Journey Through Grand Rapids Medical Mile

12:45 - 4 p.m.

Downtown Grand Rapids is home to some of the most advanced healthcare and research related facilities, and features the “medical mile.” The MSU Grand Rapids Innovation Park anchors the “Medical Mile” and includes the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center and the Doug Mejer Medical Innovation Building. Start his human health centered workshop at the MSU Grand Rapids Research Center, a 167,000-foot biomedical research facility designed as a collaborative space to help MSU students and partners tap into the Big Ten Academic Alliance (one of the best-funded research alliances in the world).Then go next door to the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building. This 200,000 square foot building is a space to create synergy among academic medicine, healthcare delivery systems and industry partners. The final stop is the MSU College of Human Medicine Secchia Center, which serves as MSU’s medical education building. The Secchia Center is home to more than 300 first- and second-year medical students and 20 principal investigators who research women’s health, Parkinson’s, and other chronic diseases.

Please note this is a walking tour and will include walking to/from DeVos and the buildings, as well as an uphill walk to one of the facilities. Please dress appropriately for the tour and weather conditions.

Waste Wonders: A Deep Dive into Recycling and Waste Management

1 - 4:30 p.m.

Embark on an eye-opening journey through the lifecycle of waste and recycling. This workshop offers an engaging and educational exploration of how we handle, process, and repurpose waste to create a more sustainable future. Visit the Kent County Waste-to-Energy Facility to witness how municipal solid waste from six cities is transformed into renewable energy. Observe the incineration process, where waste is converted into steam, and learn about the journey of this steam through turbines to generate electricity. Discover how this process helps power homes and businesses in Kent County. Then, take a walk through the Kent County Recycling center, a sorting facility designed for West Michigan's residential recyclables. See how materials are categorized and prepared for shipment, and gain insights into the process of creating bales from various recyclables.

Closed-toe shoes are required for this tour. Please also note that the Waste to Energy Facility elevator is out of commission and to experience the facility, participants will need to climb up and go down five flights of steps that are grated.Participants who are unable to climb five flights of stairs may wait in the entryway and skip this portion of the tour.

The Ins and Outs of Organic Certification at Green Wagon Farm

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Do you work with farmers? Learn the ins and outs of organic certification to prepare you for answering questions and providing resources. Learn from farmers why they chose to pursue organic certification for their farm, a different type of certification or no certification at all. Get an introduction to USDA Organic rules, recordkeeping requirements, approved products, and what the inspection process is like.

Nourishing Futures: A Volunteer Day with Kids Food Basket (FEC24 Service Project)

1 - 5 p.m.

Put your hands to use in this service based Workshop on the Move. Volunteer to help prep food at Kids Food Basket. Working collaboratively to meet the needs of every child and family they serve, Kids Food Basket aims to pursue a hunger-free West Michigan. Not all kids have consistent access to nutritious meals. Let’s join forces and do something about it. Working together, we can play a small role to ensure that local students have access to healthy, life-affirming food to help them thrive and foster their limitless potential.

1. Please wear appropriate attire to volunteer, which includes clothes you would not mind getting dirty. Our production floor/warehouse can get hot or cold depending on time of year, please dress with consideration for weather.
2. Hairnets and beard/facial nets (as applicable) must be worn by all volunteers working with open food. These items will be made available to you prior to the start of your volunteer shift

Sculpted Serenity: Exploring Art and Nature at Meijer Gardens

1 - 5 p.m.

Immerse yourself in one of the world’s finest horticultural display gardens and sculpture parks in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Proudly ranked among the most-visited art museums worldwide and named the Best Sculpture Park in the United States by readers of USA Today in 2023 & 2024, the collection showcases over 200 captivating sculptures, inviting you to experience the perfect blend of art and nature. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory, Earl & Donnalee Holton Arid Garden, and Victorian Greenhouse and then take a narrated tram tour to experience the natural beauty of Meijer Gardens, including an overview of the Sculpture Park, the American Horse, the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, and Michigan’s Farm Garden.

Portions of this tour may require ample walking and will also include being outside, so please dress accordingly.