Wilmington College to Hold Activities Highlighting Earth Day

Ice Cream, International Foods, Antique Tractor All Part of Celebration Wilmington College is observing the 49^th annual Earth Day Thursday (April 19) with a series of activities ranging from a tree give-away and ice cream tasting to panel discussion on environmental advocacy, agriculture technology demonstrations and an international food festival. The day’s events are free and open to the public. The College’s Agriculture Dept. will open Earth Day activities with several events, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Center for the Sciences and Agriculture (CSA) parking lot near the greenhouse (corner of College and Elm streets). There, the first 40 visitors will receive a tree suitable for planting, a chance to taste fresh produce from the College Farm and displays featuring livestock and an antique tractor. Also on tap will be an antique engine ice cream production demonstration and subsequent tasting. An Earth Day roundtable discussion on environmental advocacy will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., in the McCoy Room of Kelly Center featuring staff members from the offices of U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman. Refreshments will be served for 30 minutes prior to the discussion. The agriculture lab and greenhouse at the CSA facility will be the site for rotating ag-tech demonstrations hosted by Modern Farming interns and sponsored by Batelle Corp. and the Ohio Soybean Council. Collegiate Farm Bureau will sponsor a hunger demonstration from 4:30 to 5 p.m., in Room C&D in Pyle Student Center. This activity features limited seating and meal participation on a first come, first served basis. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the film, Food Evolution, will be presented in Heiland Theatre. This 90-minute 2017 film seeks to illustrate how easily misinformation, confusion and fear can overwhelm objective analysis. It asks the questions: how do we ensure that our food supply is safe, and that everyone has enough to eat and how do we feed the world while also protecting the planet? The day’s activities will conclude with the International Food Festival, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the McCoy Room. Cuisine representing more than 20 countries will be on hand for tasting in an event sponsored by the WC International Club and World Foods class. Dr. Corey Cockerill, associate professor of communication arts and agriculture, said the day's activities offer something for everyone. Who doesn't like ice cream? "We believe this is an opportunity for WC and the surrounding community to share in and create dialogue around topics like: biodiversity, renewable fuels, carbon sequestration, soil and water conservation, food production and food security, environmental policy, biotechnology, and more," she said. Although Wilmington College is getting a head start with its programming on the 19th, Earth Day is officially observed April 22 in nearly 200 countries as a day in which citizens demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970 when former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin held an environmental teach-in. Known as “The Father of Earth Day,” Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his work on behalf of the environment.