College is a formative time for students, setting the foundation for years to come. It is a time of discovery, whether it be new passions, friends, or opportunities. Personally, I discovered my love for grapes and wine at UC Davis, which I had never been exposed to growing up in Los Angeles. I ended up switching my major and pursuing a career in the wine industry because of my exposure at UC Davis and the subsequent uncovering of a passion. Similarly, the UC Davis Student Farm reaches students who might not have been exposed to agriculture prior to college, providing opportunities for students to create, maintain, and explore just and sustainable food systems while mentoring and being mentored.

The UC Davis Student Farm was featured in a Forum event at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science on May 16, 2023. Featuring UC Davis Student Farm Director Colin Dixon along with students Wendy Martinez Castaneda, Jesus Trujillo, and Marcy Cathcart, the event highlighted this small farm with a big impact.

Dixon noted that the goal of the UC Davis Student Farm is to hold a space for students to learn about agriculture that is sustainable ecologically, socially, and economically while simultaneously providing them opportunities to think scientifically, learn via hands-on work, develop and support community, and envision a better future. Some students’ first foray into farming occurs here, and some end up working in food systems or as farmers after their pivotal experiences at the UC Davis Student Farm.

Hosting programs in market-scale farm production, food access and security, restoration, and more, the UC Davis Student Farm was founded in 1977, and its 23 acres include multiple gardens and a vineyard. In the gardens, students grow herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruits, and California native plants. With a focus on the diversity of both plants and people, student farm volunteers and workers also welcome local children on field trips to teach them about farming. As student speaker Marcy Cathcart mentioned, the Student Farm enables her to “connect to people and nature.”

With community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs for both produce and flowers, sales to the UC Davis Student Housing Dining Commons, a weekly market, and produce distributions for students experiencing food insecurity, the UC Davis Student Farm is bustling year-round. And the student farm is just that—a farm led, run, and managed by students! If you want to try the student-grown produce or enjoy some gorgeous local flowers, the weekly farmstand and CSA programs are open to the community. And if you missed the event but want to learn more about this small farm with a big impact, you can watch the event recording.