About Jefferson Farm & Gardens

Jefferson Farm & Gardens is an educational farm operated by the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute. The farm is currently under development in Columbia, Missouri. It is expected to open to the public in 2009.

Overview

Located on the southeast edge of Columbia, this 67-acre farm will immerse visitors in contemporary Midwest farming and gardening. Indoor and outdoor exhibits and demonstrations will serve as a year-round attraction for an estimated 30,000 visitors per year.

Jefferson Farm & Gardens will host tours, classes, workshops and special events in addition to regular visitation. Up to 10,000 school children are expected to participate in educational programs each year.

Jefferson Institute

The Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute is a nonprofit agriculture education center also based in Columbia. The institute promotes agricultural education and research in Missouri and throughout the United States. Executive director Rob Myers founded the institute in 1997. Learn more about the institute at www.jeffersoninstitute.org.

To contact a staff member, call the main line (573-449-3518) or send a direct email with the following formula:

First initial + Last name + @jeffersoninstitute.org

Example:

Mary Smith
msmith@jeffersoninstitute.org

Staff

Jerry Nelson, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Director

Lorin Chann, M.S.
Project Manager

Rob Myers, Ph.D.
Director of Crop Diversity

Amy Smith, Ph.D.
Youth Education Coordinator

Catherine A. Bohnert, M.S.
Horticulture Specialist

Alan Weber, M.S.
Marketing/Economic Consultant

Board of Directors

Jerry Nelson, Ph.D.
Board President and Curator’s Professor Emeritus
University of Missouri

David Baltensperger, Ph.D.
Soil and Crop Science Department Chairman
Texas A&M University

Steve Borgelt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biological Engineering
University of Missouri

Dennis Keeney, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Iowa State University

Craig Roberts, Ph.D.
Professor of Plant Science
University of Missouri