The first-ever Fall Festival at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems in Goldsboro drew about 750 people Sept. 16. The festival, an open house event for the public, was the culmination of "Seasons of Sustainable Agriculture," a celebration of 10 years of programming at CEFS.

The event was held at the CEFS Small Farm Unit, an organic farm where crops, poultry and goats are raised. Visitors could see a variety of crops in the fields, a fall garden, cover crops, a no-till demonstration and a soghum crop maze, as well as pasture-raised poultry and goats grazing on Sudan grass.

"We were extremely pleased with the turnout and response to this first-time event," said Nancy Creamer, CEFS director and associate professor of horticultural science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "More than 700 were in attendance.

"We had a lot of kid activities in addition to farmer and gardener workshops, a farmers market, music, local food and more. I expect this will likely become an annual event."

The festival featured live music, including that of the Back Porch Boys, a three-member band of players with ties to CEFS. At the farmers' market, local vendors sold a range of products from produce to goat cheese to honey.

Throughout the day, visitors participated in tours of the Small Farm or of all the CEFS units, as well as workshops. Workshop topics included vermicomposting, tomato grafting, alpaca breeding, raising pastured poultry, eating local foods and more.

Children enjoyed a variety of activities, including getting lost - and found - in the crop maze, creating art with seeds and harvesting, shucking and milling corn. Face painting and other art activities were also offered.

Local food vendors served barbecue sandwiches, ice cream and a variety of fried vegetables. Wayne County

4-H'ers made fresh orangeades. A variety of exhibitors also offered information on CEFS and sustainable agriculture.

- Natalie Hampton