SDSU Extension to host event showcasing vegetable production at Cherry Rock Farms

Photo courtesy of Cherry Rock Farms

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce an event highlighting how to grow vegetables in a high tunnel at a Brandon-area farm on July 23, 2025. 

This High Tunnel and Vegetable Production Field Day featuring Cherry Rock Farms is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT and is free to attend. A free picnic lunch will be served. Registration is requested at the SDSU Extension Events page and search “cherry”. 

This on-farm event will include a walking tour of the vegetable production fields, high tunnels and the store. Cherry Rock Farms is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year; fourth-generation owners Laura and Marco Patzer will lead tours and answer questions about their business.

Current and beginning farmers, technical service providers, gardeners and anyone who would like to learn more about growing vegetables in high tunnels are invited; those interested in scaling up production, transitioning to certified organic production or selling produce through wholesale and direct-to-consumer markets are also encouraged to attend. 

Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist, said Cherry Rock Farms’ location has excellent soil and weather conditions to grow exceptional vegetables, and the owners are a wealth of information for those interested in vegetable production. 

“Marco and Laura Patzer value regenerative farming practices like crop rotation, rotation of pastured animals and composting waste,” Lang added. “Taking care of the land and producing nutrient-rich vegetables for customers and family are top priorities at Cherry Rock.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blanket for lunch. The event will be canceled if there is an active storm watch or warning. The tours will include moderate walking, so attendees should wear proper shoes. 

For more information, contact Kristine Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist. 

This event is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2022-38640-37486 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC22-216.