Practical Farmers of Iowa will host a field day on Sunday, June 22, from 2-5:30 p.m., at Blue Gate Farm near Columbia. The farm is operated by Jill Beebout and Sean Skeehan. The event will focus on two vital assets to a market farm: walk-in coolers and pollinators. Beebout and Skeehan will discuss their newly built 120-square-foot CoolBot walk-in cooler, as well as their efforts to manage their land for beneficial insects and pollinators.

The two are also conducting on-farm pollinator research through Practical Farmers’ Cooperators’ Program and will discuss this work at the field day.

Blue Gate Farm is located at 749 Wyoming St., about 4 miles southwest of Columbia. The event is free to attend and will include a potluck. Beebout and Skeehan will provide a main dish, salad and beverages. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVPs are requested for the meal, and can be made by contacting Lauren Zastrow at (515) 232-5661 or lauren@practicalfarmers.org by Thursday, June 19.