Morehead State’s Browning Orchard Festival has been placed on hold as students and faculty from the Department of Agricultural Sciences work to improve the health and wellness of the orchard.
“We’re working specifically on the health of the trees and the land at the orchard,” said MSU Farm Manager Joe Fraley. “A late frost in May killed out all the apples for this year. We plan on having the festival again as soon as we are confident in the health and longevity of the trees.”
The annual festival is a staple in the MSU and Fleming County communities.
Held each September by the MSU Department of Agricultural Sciences and Office of Alumni Relations and Development, the event features live music, apple picking, hay rides around the orchard, pony rides by the MSU Equestrian Team, a variety of kid activities and more.
The event draws nearly 2,000 community members who enjoy reminiscing about old times, when the Browning family hosted events to celebrate the start of fall. The festival is a unique nod to the tradition that the Browning Family started as early as 1926.
Fraley said new trees are being planted to replace those damaged by the frost and that it could take a few years for the orchard to be back to the condition before the frost. The department is using this time as an opportunity to focus on other improvements to the orchard property as well.
For more information about programs in MSU’S Department of Agricultural Sciences, visit http://www.moreheadstate.edu/agriculture or email agsi@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2662.
