Family, food and fun will be the focal points Sunday, Oct. 14 when West Virginia University launches a week of events celebrating the inauguration of WVU s 22nd President, Mike Garrison, with Family Day at the Farm. The event at WVU s Animal Science Farm on Stewartstown Road will be held from 11 a.m.4 p.m.

The WVU and Morgantown community are invited to enjoy a fall afternoon at the farm and learn how your dinner ends up on your plate.

Event organizers have planned a wide range of hands-on activities for kids and kids at heart. Activities include jewelry making, a hay bale maze, football toss, insect origami and the opportunity to meet the service-dogs-in-training.

For the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, WVU Extension Service and the Mountaineer Parents Club, all sponsoring organizations, the days themeSupporting Families, Strengthening Healthis particularly meaningful.

Supporting families and strengthening health are really at the core of everything we do in the Davis College, from helping to develop a safe and plentiful food supply to making best use of forest and natural resources to creating new economic opportunities for West Virginians,said Cameron Hackney, dean of the Davis College.

Dave Miller, WVU associate provost for Extension echoed Hackney.

All of our WVU Extension programs relate to family, health, community and education. This day gives us a chance to show a snapshot of some of the work we do across the state on farms, at our 4-H camps, or in a nutrition class,Miller said.

Its a natural fit for the Mountaineer Parents Club as well.

The Mountaineer Parents Club connects 18,000 families nationwide so we are happy to be connecting with families at the farm as part of President Garrison’s inaugural events,said Sabrina Cave, executive director of the Mountaineer Parents Club.

Hands-on demonstrations will be held throughout the day, highlighting innovative programs in the Davis College and Extension. The WVU Collegiate 4-H Club and Extension faculty and staff will provide fun, educational activities. The History Wagon from Jacksons Mill will showcase hands-on activities from yesteryear and Germ City is a fun way to emphasize the importance of hand washing.

Family Day visitors will be able to learn more about aquaculture, organic farming and animal ultrasound as they enjoy demonstrations from WVU s Woodsmen Team, a chance to see a cider press and portable sawmill in action, and enjoy the music of the Falling Run Bluegrass Band, led by Ray Hicks, a professor of forest ecology in the Davis College.

All students, parents, faculty, staff, and members of the Morgantown community are welcome to attend. The event is free, but space is limited to 500 attendees, so pre-registration is required. To register, visithttp://simpleforms.scripts.wvu.edu/sf/FamilyDayAtTheFarm/

For more information on the full schedule of inaugural events, visithttp://inauguration.wvu.edu/