Rutgers Day 2025 was held on April 26 on Cook Campus. Photo: OPOC.
Thousands of visitors gathered on April 26 for Rutgers Day 2025 on Cook/Douglass Campus for free performances, exhibits, food, and educational demonstrations. Despite rain forcing much of the festivities indoors, the morning spared Ag Field Day, during which agriculture-related programs featured a farm animal exhibition by veterinary science students, a dog show, contests, and many other activities. The Rutgers Farm Store was open for business, offering a prime selection of meats raised on campus for sale.
At the Rutgers Gardens Plant Sale, attendees carted many varieties of plants for their home gardens from the Floriculture Greenhouse, a new venue for this year’s event.
Community members came to campus to purchase plants, produce and more. Photo: OPOC.
“The new venue has supported increased student involvement in growing the plants for the sale,” said Lauren Errickson, director, Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship. “And with the timing of Rutgers Day during the spring semester, our students are also more active in selling the plants for a full “seed to market” opportunity.”
Although the rain forced the Rutgers Community Farmers Market indoors this year, visitors were delighted by a multitude of local farm products available for sale during Rutgers Day and learned about many things to look forward to in the coming season.
“We’re selling everything from plump juicy peaches and huge heirloom tomatoes to colorful cauliflower, carrots and watermelon. We have every type of honey you can imagine and fresh flowers,” said Lucille Tang, senior program administrator, New Brunswick Community Farmers Market & Cook’s Market at Rutgers Gardens.
“The Rutgers Community Farmers Market brings together growers, vendors, and community members. And we’re more than just a market. There’s live music, resource tables, kids’ activities, and community events. We hope that everyone can connect to delicious, nutritious produce, with local growers and vendors, and with each other,” added Tang.
Children lined up to pet farm animals. Photo: OPOC.
At Ag Field Day, the Society of Animal Science and the Department of Animal Sciences hosted farm animal demonstrations that were a major attraction for children and families who lined up to interact with piglets, goats, sheep and cows at the livestock show and a demonstration of the mounted patrol, where visitors met the patrol horses, Norman and Austin.
“It’s always a big hit. We always try to show people the farm because kids and adults don’t get to see the animals often,” said Chase Tomko, a senior at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and president of the Rutgers Veterinary Science Club, who volunteered to staff the event. “A big thing this year is the avian influenza. We don’t have chickens this year. They’re usually a big hit. They’re safe and want to keep it that way. We want to educate the community about influenza.”
Inside the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, academic departments, clubs and outside organizations tabled and hosted various activities. Brian McGonigle, manager of Alumni and Community Engagement, was holding a contest for people who look most like George H. Cook, famed 19th-century geologist and founder of Cook College.
Brian McGonigle posing with a photo of Cook College founder for a look-alike contest. Photo: OPOC.
“The Cook-alike Look-alike contest gives alumni a chance to reconnect with the school in a fun, unique, and nostalgic way,” said McGonigle. “Also, people love to bring their dogs to Ag Field Day, and we’re happy to offer their pooches a SEBS bandana, which they wear proudly. The trivia wheel, where people get to test their Rutgers knowledge, is always a huge hit. The line never stops.”
At the recreation center, students at the Rutgers University Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Club, which raises puppies for The Seeing Eye Inc., a Morristown, N.J.-based national nonprofit group, were showing off some of their dogs-in-training.
“Our mission is to provide people with visual impairments with dignity, independence, and what they need to live their lives successfully with puppies by their side,” said Kaylee Flanbert, a SEBS sophomore in the pre-dental program. “As a student, getting exposed to these dogs breaks the stigma. They’re not a hassle or anything to be afraid of.”
