A collaboration between the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), Department of Animal Science, and local non-profit Big Gumdrop Outdoors, welcomed 400 community members to East Campus for Farm Discovery Night on November 18.
Big Gumdrop Outdoors is based in Lincoln and was founded by Elijah Riley, a 2024 graduate from UNL. The organization is dedicated to empowering urban youth through education and outdoor exploration, aiming to break down barriers to nature access by providing afterschool programs, summer activities, and community events that inspire kids to connect with the outdoors.
"The feedback we kept receiving through all of our events from participants and their families was that they wanted more interactions with animals," said Riley. "As a former student, I knew that there were resources on campus that could help us provide that experience, so I reached out to CASNR, and we worked together to make this event happen."
The free event allowed participants to see and learn more about animals up close, such as horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, rabbits and chickens. Student organizations in animal science, along with CASNR, Nebraska Extension, the Food Bank of Lincoln, Conservation Nebraska and the Department of Food Science and Technology also provided activities and answered questions for attendees.
