6 things to do at Ag Day

The University of Delaware Ag Day 2026 is just around the corner. The decades-old University of Delaware tradition hosted by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) brings thousands of people to campus to experience the very best of what CANR has to offer. More than 90 attractions, demonstrations, exhibits and activities show off agriculture and natural resources in a fun and educational way. Join CANR's celebration 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at 531 S. College Ave. in Newark.

Here are six things to do at Ag Day this year:

1. Watch a sheep get sheared

CANR has a working farm with numerous animals. On Ag Day, the public will get to interact with sheep up close. Watch Larry Armstrong, Webb Farm manager, shear a sheep and talk about all things sheep and wool. Mackenzie Pickett, a senior wildlife ecology and conservation major, said the public will get to learn all about what practices go into caring for sheep.

"It is a really unique experience to be able to interact with the animals and learn more about agriculture in such a hands-on way," Pickett said. "It is cool to see how sheep shearing works and to learn about the care that goes into raising sheep."

There will be other animals and insects to interact with on Ag Day as well - calves, dogs, reptiles and even insects. The UD Entomology Club will host an Insect Zoo, featuring a variety of critters. You can even watch cockroaches race against each other.

2. Attend "Hen Talks"

Want to learn about raw milk, eating insects, artificial intelligence and Lyme Disease? The CANR "Hen Talks" is for you. This year, in 132 Townsend Hall, CANR faculty will give short talks about these topics in exciting and educational ways.

"Our college's motto is to 'Feed the world. Protect the planet,'" CANR Dean Brian Farkas said. "But that is such an overwhelming thing to comprehend. These talks are a fun and informative way for everyone to see what we are doing in the college to advance science and how everyone can live that motto, even if just a little bit."

To learn more about the Hen Talks, visit the Ag Day web page.

3. Peruse a plant sale

The 34th annual University of Delaware Botanic Gardens Spring Benefit Plant Sale will take place during Ag Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale is located at the UD Botanic Gardens nursery area across Roger Martin Lane from Fischer Greenhouse. The sale will feature more than 500 varieties of plants. Viburnum and Penstemon are this year's featured plant genera. Catherine Dotchel, a sophomore plant science major, said she loves shopping for house plants, perennials and even small trees.

"As a college student, you don't often get the ability to shop for outside plants [on campus]," Dotchel said. "We have a houseplant sale here, but the UDBG plant sale is at least the only time I've experienced where I can buy perennial plants for outside. It's also a bigger variety and a larger sale than any other plant sale we have during the year."