June 4, 2026
Jefferson Farm and Garden Extension and Education Center already draws crowds for events such as the Tomato Festival and Butterfly Festival. Now, with a newly expanded education center, University of Missouri Extension is preparing the Columbia-area farm for a larger role as a year-round hub for classes, workshops and community programs.
The upgraded facility on East New Haven Road gives MU Extension more room for hands-on learning while also making many Boone County programs easier for local residents to reach, Charles Holland, director of Jefferson Farm and Garden and of MU Extension operations in Boone County, said.
The newly completed education building expansion increased capacity from roughly 80 learners to more than 110 and added updated instructional technology, flexible classroom space and indoor-outdoor teaching capabilities. A large roll-up door allows demonstrations involving equipment, drones and other agricultural technologies to move easily between the classroom and the farm.
Jefferson Farm and Garden partnered with the Boone County MU Extension council to obtain initial funding for the building from the Boone County Commission through an American Rescue Plan Act grant.
The 67-acre MU Extension educational farm focuses on agriculture, gardening, conservation and natural resources education. The site hosts workshops, field trips, demonstrations and festivals designed to connect people with food systems, agriculture and the outdoors.
The expansion reflects how MU Extension facilities are evolving to meet changing community and workforce needs, Holland said.
“We’re creating an accessible farm for all,” he said. “This farm is a state asset and hopefully we can make an impact on the state as far as workforce development.”
Many programs previously held at the Boone County extension center are expected to move to Jefferson Farm and Garden, including Master Gardener and Master Naturalist meetings, pesticide applicator training, cooking and nutrition classes, and programs tied to emerging agricultural technologies.
Jefferson Farm and Garden is also expanding accessibility through features such as a new accessible beehive designed for people who may have difficulty lifting traditional hive boxes. The hive uses horizontally sliding frames and will support educational programs including Heroes to Hives.
One of the next major public events at Jefferson Farm and Garden will be the ninth annual Butterfly Festival on June 13. The free event runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes tours of the butterfly house and gardens, children’s activities, pollinator exhibits, food vendors and a plant sale by the Heart of Missouri Master Gardeners.
The festival also will give visitors a chance to experience the upgraded education center and expanded facilities firsthand.
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