Increased “Social Aspect” Part of 2023 Blueberry Field Day

When Scott Lukas took over as the Endowed Professor for Northwest Berry Production and Management at OSU last year, one of his stated goals was to build relationships with the industry.

To that end, Lukas inserted several changes to the annual Oregon Blueberry Field Day, held July 26 at the North Willamette Valley Research and Extension Center in Aurora.

Among changes from past field days, the 2023 version started in the morning and offered a lunch to patrons at the conclusion of the half-day event.

Scott Lukas, OSU’s Endowed Professor for Northwest Berry Production and Management, welcomes participants to the 2023 Oregon Blueberry Field Day, July 26 in Aurora. Among changes that Lucas brought to this year’s event, was a morning start and a lunch at the conclusion.

“That is why the lunch was there,” Lukas said, “so we were able to have unstructured time where we could get to know each other, talk more casually with each other. I think that is a big component of these types of events.

“It’s not just back-to-back talks and then everybody leaves,” he said. “In my mind, there is a relationship and a social aspect that’s really important.”

The lunch, catered by Buster’s Texas Style Barbecue and sponsored by vendors, also provided an opportunity for vendors to put their products in front of growers and it featured a presentation from Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Staci Simonich.

Lukas said he pushed the field day to the morning, rather than the traditional afternoon start, to avoid issues with heat.

“We pushed it to the morning, so it is a little bit cooler for people,” Lukas said, “and we got positive comments about that. I noticed that during the last speaker’s talk, which was just before noon, it was starting to feel mighty hot.”

The field day also featured a falconry demonstration, another aspect that Lukas hopes to do more of in the future. “We plan on doing demonstrations like that each year,” Lukas said. “That could be something to do with harvesters, or irrigation, or it could be a fertigation demonstration.”

Lukas said he also is making sure that agenda items fit the setting. “I’m really wanting to focus on talks that are pertinent to be delivered in the field,” he said. “Whereas we can learn about certain aspects in a classroom much better than we can in the field. There are other topics better suited for field day.

“Instead of talking about molecular science in the field, let’s talk about humic acids, pollinators, bird control, weed control and evapotranspiration,” Lukas said.

Lukas said he has received nothing but positive responses from field day participants. “I’ve gotten good feedback, and so we do plan on keeping the same focus,” he said.

And Lukas plans to continue engaging with growers and others in the industry to ensure future field days are relevant.

“I’m hoping to use the (Oregon Blueberry) Conference, Blueberry Commission meetings and other events to talk to growers and find out what they are curious about and maybe find topics that would fit nicely into a future field day,” Lukas said.

The field day, Lukas’ first at the helm, drew approximately 110 participants.