Educational Showcase
Each year numerous schools, organizations and community members come out to Bradford to learn about agriculture and science and have fun doing so.
Annually since 2004, Hallsville 4th grade classes have come out in the fall to learn about where their food comes from and to learn about a variety of crops. As a reward the students are allowed to go through the corn maze and even pick a pumpkin.
Partners in Education
Bradford is proud to be a Partner in Education with the Columbia Blue Ridge Elementary School. Since 2005, Bradford has hosted nearly 480 students each year as an incentive trip in the fall and a fishing trip in the spring.
Students learn about agriculture, how it affects their everyday lives, and had a chance to venture into the corn maze. If they are good then they get to pick a pumpkin to take home (they always are good!).
Undergraduate Education
Each year several undergraduate student classes utilize the resources at Bradford for either a guided tour or facilities from Plant Sciences, Soils, Agricultural Systems Management, Botany, Journalism and others. These outdoor activities give students added and realistic experiences in Agriculture and the Sciences.
Building a Passive Solar Greenhouse
A passive solar greenhouse extends the growing season and/or provides the ability to grow plants year around. Passive solar greenhouses can be used for personal use and provide an economical source of heat.
Unlike other greenhouses, a passive solar greenhouse uses water, concrete or some other heat holding material.
Making a Corn Maze
Have you ever wondered what goes into making a corn maze? When to plant the corn? Is there anything special about the corn?
Every year since 2003, Bradford has constructed its very own corn maze for the education and use of students and nonprofit groups by using Global Positioning (GPS) to recorde the coordinates of each corner.
Chromosome Walk
For many years, Bradford has been working with the Corn Genetic Group led by Georgia Davis, Ph.D. and Susan Melia-Hancock to develop the Chromosome Walk (Chromosome Maze).
This demonstration is designed to show how corn would change phenotypically if a mutation occurred at specific positions (bins ) along each chromosome. A plot was planted with 10 rows of corn; each row representing one of the 10 chromosomes.
Gene Zoo
Each year, Bill Wiebold, Ph.D. and studens plant and manage the Gene Zoo at Bradford.
The Gene Zoo shows the ancestors of corn and soybeans as well as different maturities and single gene mutations.
Rose Garden
Bradford currently has more than 150 rose plants consisting of approximately 115 different varieties.
Roses have received a bad name over time since some are notoriously fussy and difficult to grow.
Even with this bad reputation there is still a temptation to plant roses because there's nothing finer than the scent of a heavily perfumed rose.
Biofuel Garden
Dr. Bill Wiebold and colleagues have planted a Biofuel Garden that has annual and perennial crops that are either currently or have potential to be used for Biofuels.
