Agriculture

Queen candidates receive hands-on asparagus lesson

May 19, 2026

WEARE TOWNSHIP — Candidates for the National Asparagus Festival queen title recently received a lesson about asparagus during a tour of the West Michigan Research Station.  Under the guidance of Justin Adams, the women learned about the local asparagus industry; what growing conditions make a good crop; how imported asparagus is affecting the US asparagus industry; and the various types…

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Fruit tree pruning workshop set for Saturday

March 17, 2026

WEARE TOWNSHIP — Do you have a desire to start a small-scale orchard in your backyard or have established trees and want to learn more about how to care for them?  Join a hands-on fruit tree pruning workshop at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. Saturday, March 21, from 1-3 p.m.  The program…

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Spring horticulture meeting set for March 25 

March 11, 2026

WEARE TOWNSHIP — Michigan State University Extension will host the 2026 West Central Spring Horticulture Meeting Wednesday, March 25, at the West Central Michigan Research and Extension Center, at 5185 N. Oceana Dr. The full-day program will bring together MSU Extension educators, university specialists and industry partners to provide the latest updates and research related to commercial tree fruit production.…

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Asparagus queen applications now open

February 18, 2026

HART — Applications to be the next asparagus queen are now open, and applications are due by midnight April 1. Click here for application and eligibility requirements. The 2026 National Asparagus Festival is set for June 12-14. Previous queens throughout the history of the National Asparagus Festival: Asparagus Queen 2025 — Shelby Purdy  Asparagus Queen 2023 — Emma Woller Asparagus…

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Oceana Asparagus Day set for March 5

February 12, 2026

NEW ERA  — Michigan State University Extension and asparagus industry partners will host Oceana Asparagus Day, providing Michigan asparagus growers with a full day of educational programming focused on markets, labor, and production challenges Thursday, March 5, at New Era Reformed Church. Registration is from 8–9 a.m., and the program will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Oceana Asparagus…

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