Robert Schafer, director of the Central Lakes College Agricultural and Energy Center, Staples, will report on oilseed crop production at the Aug. 12 Energy and Horticulture Day. The Central Lakes College Agricultural and Energy Center at Staples will host Energy and Horticulture Day on Thursday, Aug. 12.

The event starts at 2 p.m. with a free energy crop tour and biodiesel presentations. The tour showcases oilseed

camelina) and biomass

miscanthus and native perennials). Oilseed crop production will be discussed at 3 p.m. in a presentation by Robert Schafer, director of the Central Lakes College Agricultural and Energy Center, Staples.

The presentation also features Tom Smude of Smude Enterprises LLC with information on oilseed press functions to produce oil and by-products. Biodiesel production featuring the Mcgyan® Process will be presented by Marie and Larry McNeff of Mcgyan® Biodiesel, LLC.

Chef Tom Kavanaugh of Kavanaugh’s Sylvan Lake Resort will demonstrate meal preparation with garden produce at the evening portion of Energy and Horticulture Day Aug. 12. Horticulture will be presented in two sessions starting at 6 and 7 p.m. following the local foods meal at 5:15 p.m.

The presentations are as follows:

•Preparing Meals with Garden Produce, including a chef demonstration by Tom Kavanaugh of Kavanaugh’s Sylvan Lake Resort;

•Introduction to Minnesota Vineyard Management and Wine-making by Dennis Drummond, Central Lakes College viticulture and enology instructor;

•Health Benefits From Your Garden by Donna Anderson,

University of Minnesota extension nutritionist;

•Container and Raised Bed Gardening by Dallas Flynn;

•High Tunnel (Hoop House) Food Production by Terry Nennich, U of M extension educator, horticulture;

•Birding in Minnesota by Judd Brink of MN Backyard Birds.

The center is located two miles north and one-half mile west of Staples, off County Road 2, near the Central Lakes College Staples campus.

Register for the event by calling 218-894-5161 or emailing dbreneman@clcmn.edu. Admission to the evening portion includes the meal.