Delta Farm Bureau offers agriculture tour

Delta Junction is known for its beautiful farmland.

See Alaska agriculture in action during the Delta Farm Bureau's annual farm tour Thursday, July 15, in the Delta Junction area.

The tour begins at Russ and Jeannie Pinkelman's hog operation. The next stop will be at the Delta Research Site (Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station) where tour participants will learn about the current research, including grains, weeds, and insects.

Lunch will be at the Snowhook Club, featuring locally grown foods. The menu includes buffalo burgers, steak fries, potato salad, tossed salad, rhubarb crisp, and ice cream. Lunch is included in the registration fee.

The Peterson's Insanity Acres grain farm is next on the itinerary. This grain farm has a new high tunnel, and folks will learn about financial assistance with the purchasing and operation of a high tunnel. The tour continues with Scott and Connie Plagerman's farm where participants will see the irrigation system and learn about the practices and automation on a large-scale hay operation.

The last farm visited will be Phil and Mary Kaspari's yak farm where livestock management practices will be discussed. The tour ends with a visit to Delta Meat and Sausage. This USDA slaughter facility sells a variety of local meats such as beef, pork, elk, yak, and buffalo. They also process summer sausage, meat sticks, brauts, and hot dogs. Tour-goers will enjoy the treats on the sample trays and have the opportunity to make a purchase, if desired.

This year, tour participants will enjoy the luxury of riding in a motor coach – the infamous school bus is not making the trip. The bus will leave the Cooperative Extension Service office at 1000 University Ave. in Fairbanks at 7:30 a.m. There will be complimentary juice and sweet rolls to enjoy on the ride to Delta.

The bus will leave Delta Junction promptly at 9:30 a.m. from the Jarvis Office Building at Mile 1420.5 of the Alaska Highway (next to the state troopers office). Registration with coffee and doughnuts will begin at 9 a.m. for the Delta area people. The tour bus will return to the Jarvis Office Building at 4:30 p.m. The bus will then leave from there at 5 p.m. for the trip back to Fairbanks.

Tour participants will be outdoors most of the day and walking is involved. Comfortable shoes, layered clothing, and water bottles are recommended. Young children should not attend for their own safety as well as for the enjoyment of others. Preregistration is required by July 10. For a registration form, call the at 895-4752. The trip is $45, plus $10 to ride the bus from Fairbanks.