Farms, Recreation Land, and Extension Centers

Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center

The Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, about 10 miles southwest of University Park comprises 2,000 acres of land.

Ag Progress Days

Ag Progress Days at Penn State, held annually during three days in August, is Pennsylvania's largest outdoor agricultural exposition.

Agronomy Farm

The Agronomy Farm is the college's largest field research facility, with more than 600 acres of agronomic crop research plots.

Entomology Farm

The Entomology Farm centers on testing new management strategies and studying insect ecology in field conditions.

Horticulture Farm

The Hort Farm consists of research plots with crops ranging from tomatoes to tubers, and there are 12 acres of fruit trees and small fruit plants

Pasto Agricultural Museum

The museum has approximately 1,300 rare and unusual farm and household items dating from 4,000 BC to the 1940s or more than 6,000 years. Visitors can learn about early farm life as our nation grew while gaining hands-on experience with the history of agriculture and household equipment by turning the cranks and moving levers.

Plant Pathology Farm

The Plant Pathology Farm selects and breeds crops that can stand up to bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases, and research conducted at the farm leads to the development of crops with increased resistance to serious pathogens.

Recreation Lands

Hunting on Penn State Land

All Penn State owned land represented on maps on this site which is not posted, not in a safety zone, or otherwise restricted can be considered open to hunting and trapping in accordance with current Pennsylvania game laws.

Shaver's Creek Environmental Center

Shaver's Creek was founded in 1976 as a resource for the community, and as a field laboratory for Penn State students to get hands-on experience teaching about the natural world. The programs at our Environmental Center, Outdoor School, Raptor Center, and Team Development Center provide a mix of educational and recreational opportunities for families, schools, corporate groups, and Penn State students.

Stone Valley Recreation Area

Stone Valley Recreation Area is located in Huntingdon County of Central Pennsylvania, just 17 miles from State College. Stone Valley is owned and operated by The Pennsylvania State University, but all visitors are welcome to enjoy this year-round attraction which features 700 acres of varied eco-systems within the 7,000-acre University Experimental Forest, 72-acre fresh-water Lake Perez for boating, fishing and ice-skating, 29 miles of trails for hiking and cross country skiing, and much more.

Research and Extension Centers

Fruit Research and Extension Center

The Fruit Research and Extension Center (FREC) in Biglerville is situated on 180 acres of fertile land in south-central Pennsylvania, in the heart of the major tree fruit production area of the state.

Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center

This 40-acre facility, located about 15 miles east of Erie, serves the grape-processing industry, which has a strong presence along the Lake Erie coastline in Pennsylvania and New York.

Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Located in Landisville, PA, the SEAREC is home to Penn State's applied field research program in the south central region of the state.