Everything Nac

Dr. Mary Olle, human sciences professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, has created a new experiential learning farm-to-table lab for students majoring in hospitality and food, dietetics and nutrition. Recently, dozens of students from two of Olle’s production meal management courses visited Appleby Community Farm for a tour of the property, and to gain insight into managing and marketing a local organic community garden.

This lab took place during a two-week period as the students visited the farm and then prepared meals based on the fresh produce at Appleby Community Farm. During the first week of the lab, farm owner and farmer Bryan Pruett walked the students around the grounds while pointing out different crops and describing farming techniques.

Pruett and his wife Cindy opened the farm in 2009. Pruett said they currently have three-and-a-half acres under cultivation but will expand as needed.

Students toured Pruett’s citrus greenhouse, where he grows a variety of produce including lemon trees. Also, students viewed the starter greenhouse and other sections of the farm where the Pruetts grow varieties of peppers, tomatoes, peaches, collard greens, flowers, and more.

The lab required students to create a meal under a specific budget and to use ingredients grown at Appleby Community Farm. Students built their recipes around produce available at the farm and returned to reap the harvest last week.

“Farm-to-table is not just a trend anymore, it’s mainstream,” Olle said. “This lab is a great opportunity for our students to see home-grown production since many of our students have never experienced farm life.”

Students worked in groups and some were tasked with cooking an appetizer, while others created entrees and side dishes. SFA faculty and staff members were invited to sample the meal.

Students prepared dishes such as mozzarella pesto bruschetta, arugula salad, strawberry basil bruschetta, stuffed eggplant, grilled rainbow peppers with herb cream cheese, baked eggplant with penne pasta, Santa Fe skillet, potato gratin with chives, and bacon-wrapped jalapeño peppers.

“This lab was a great addition to the curriculum, and it showed the students a different side to meal preparation,” Olle said.

Olle was pleased with the lab results and is looking forward to future semesters.

“The experience connected student learning with the community and industry. It also allowed the students to demonstrate their creativity by incorporating the fresh produce into the recipes they prepared,” Olle said. “This was the first time for this class to actually utilize the farm-to-table concept, and I hope to continue in the future.”

The Chikawa Aztec Dancers will return to Nacogdoches for the third annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta set for 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead observance, is considered a cheerful celebration of life, honoring the souls of the deceased. Día de los Muertos is a Mexican term derived from the Roman Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls’ days, traditionally observed Nov. 1 and 2. An array of activities, ranging from decorating graves to creating home altars, typically highlight the celebration that can last for days.

For the past two years, hundreds of East Texas residents have attended the Nacogdoches festival, and this year’s event is drawing more entertainment, more booths and greater interest as the festival gains popularity, according to Lisa Steed, events coordinator for Stephen F. Austin State University Art Galleries.

“We have multiple food booths, including Shelley’s Bakery Cafe, Merci’s World Cuisine, TacoMex, Friends of the Visual Arts and others,” Steed said. “We have a lot more SFA club participation this year, as well.”

Among the other featured booths are Nacogdoches High School floral shop, NHS Art Club, SFA Art Alliance, SFA Metals Club, SFA School of Theatre’s face painting, SFA Asian Culture Club, SFA Knights of Columbus, SFA Organization of Latin Americans, Angelina Spanish Club, and more.

Among the entertainment will be the popular Chikawa Aztec Dancers, Martinez Mariachi Duo, Juan Carlos and Jenna Urena and the SFA Jacks of Steel. Based in Conroe, Chikawa Aztec Dancers with their colorful costumes are always a crowd pleaser, Steed said.

“We will also have the traditional Day of the Dead procession, and anyone can participate,” she said. “Costumes are highly encouraged, especially Day of the Dead themed costumes.”

The community altar returns this year in the window of Cole Art Center where remembrances or a photo of a loved one who has passed on can be included. Local artist Carol Eaton Walsh will also have an altar outside in the festival area.

The SFA School of Theatre will paint sugar skulls as a fundraiser, and there will be a free booth where children of all ages can color a paper mask. A silent art auction inside Cole Art Center will feature donated work by local artists and students. Although some booths charge a fee, the festival is free.

Fiesta sponsors are Main Street Nacogdoches, Hampton Inn & Suites Nacogdoches, 103 The Bull, R&K Distributing, University Rental, SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and SFA Sound Recording Technology program. The fiesta is organized by SFA Art Galleries.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-6557.

Digging the plow into the textured soil, farmer Pete, played by Stephen F. Austin State University senior Michael Correll, teaches dozens of third grade students from Nacogdoches Independent School District about subsistence farming and life on a farm in rural East Texas in the early 1900s. As he carves out each row in his garden, Pete explains how chain grocery stores were nonexistent in his day and how families had to grow the food they wanted to eat.

For more than 20 years, SFA, area schools and Millard’s Crossing Historic Village have worked together to bring the past to life in an interactive field trip known as Pioneer Days. During this weeklong event, SFA elementary education students interact with third graders though a variety of experiential learning activities.

“By playing a character, it is more immersive for the kids and they seem to be more into the station,” Correll said. “By being farmer Pete, I was able to connect what life was like for me back then to the students today.”

Event coordinator and organizer Dr. Vicki Thomas, assistant professor at SFA, said in Texas, third graders learn about the past and how technologies and inventions changed the world.

“During Pioneer Days, children get to experience what a child’s life may have been like on a subsistence farm in rural East Texas about a century ago,” Thomas said. “The children explore artifacts that were used in the past and learn how inventions can make life easier. They also compare and contrast life in the past to their lives today.”

Some of the activities the children participated in included attending school in a one-room schoolhouse, hand washing clothes, playing pioneer games, plowing a garden, making toys out of corncobs and feathers, and more. At each station, SFA students were dressed in traditional pioneer clothing and discussed varied aspects of life in the early 1900s.

“It is so exciting to see the teacher candidates in full-out performances. They put so much heart and soul into their parts and work hard to engage students in the learning process. I can see them growing and mastering their craft each time they conduct their stations,” Thomas said.

In the Millard-Lee house, SFA students became historic characters as they engaged in a real-life wax museum.

“The children learn about important people in Texas during their wax museum tour. With the ringing of a bell, characters come to life to engage in conversations about their contributions to the city and state,” Thomas said. “For example, Lera Thomas, one of the characters, was a woman who showed great determination when she relocated historic landmarks in the ‘oldest town in Texas’ before they were destroyed due to expansion.”

Additional characters included Stephen F. Austin, Nettie Marshall and Anna Raguet.

Nearly 1,000 students are served each year during the fall and spring semesters. Last week, hundreds of students attended the fall portion of Pioneer Days.

“Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces is priceless because they are so excited to be outside and engaged in hands-on learning activities,” Thomas said.

Pioneer Days educates young students on East Texas’ history and also gives SFA elementary education majors an opportunity to practice teaching techniques in the field.

“As part of our elementary education program, teacher candidates study learning theories, management strategies, instructional practices, lesson planning and educational standards,” Thomas said. “Pioneer Days includes opportunities to put all of those concepts into practice with children. Their participation is integrated into a required social studies course.”

Thomas said Pioneer Days continues to be successful and relevant by benefiting both SFA students and the visiting third grade students.

“Pioneer Days is the culmination of months of planning, organizing, teaching and learning, so when the days arrive, I am thrilled to see it all come together like a symphony,” Thomas said.