MSU IAT - Southwestern Michigan College

🍎Join us as we explore the latest developments in Food Processing and Sports Turf Research with the MSU Mobile Food Processing Lab and FIFA World Cup ’26 Turfgrass educators, respectively at the SMC Student Activities Center (Dailey Road Entrance) on Thursday April 10, 2025.
Sessions will include tours of the mobile lab which mirrors what students will see in the industry once they graduate just at a smaller scale and was built to demonstrate the needs for food grade processing and meeting the demands of the curriculum for the certificate program. The mobile lab will deliver hands-on training to the IAT community college partners, reducing the need for infrastructure investments at each school.
More so learn about research done by the MSU Turfgrass program together with the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. They are currently working with FIFA to develop the perfect playing surface for the World Cup Soccer tournament making its return to North America on June 11 - July 19, 2026, with 48 teams competing in 104 matches across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

• 11:00 am – 11:50 am – Mobile Food Processing Lab Tour and Seminar🥫
o Open session and tour from 1:15 pm – 3:00 pm
• 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm – Turfgrass Research FIFA World Cup Soccer ‘26⚽️
o SAC Zollar 804

• The event is free and open to all individuals in the community. Parking available near the MSU Mobile Food Processing Lab in front of the SMC Student Activities Center (Dailey Road Entrance). Campus Location: 58900 Cherry Grove Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047🍒

Spring is in the air in Michigan and our IAT students now preparing for their professional internships. Meet Jessica Heath assessing a peach orchard at MSU's Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, MI. Shown here assisting Dr. William Shane with his peach breeding research projects in July 2023. Good work indeed. 🍑

Internship experience is essential to the success of our IAT students. Meet Alexandria Smith assessing an apple orchard near Berrien Center, MI as part of her duties for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Good work indeed. 🍎

Here's an fun event hosted by the Southwest Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmers at Griner Farms on Saturday, March 22. The Chili Cook-Off begins at 4 pm. 🌶🌽

Internships are an integal part of the student's learning experience. Meet Felicia McKnight of MSU IAT at SMC assessing a Hartford, MI cherry orchard for Nutrien Ag Solutions in August 2024. Good work indeed.🍒