Nanook Grown students grow skills, food security, annual Equinox Dinner

Sept. 15, 2026

Three people harvest carrots from a raised garden bed. — UAF photo by Leif Van Cise
�ֻ�ֱ�� students Emma Heil, Brodrick Larson and Chris Tolver harvest carrots from the vegetable garden at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm in August 2024.

The Nanook Grown Student Gardener Training Program gives UAF students hands-on experience growing food at the UAF Fairbanks Experiment Farm. Working with peer mentors and a garden manager, students learn practical skills in planting, harvesting and crop care while gaining teamwork experience and taking home a weekly share of produce.

Nanook Grown is a proud member of the �ֻ�ֱ�� Harvest Collaborative, a statewide network of farmers, educators, food producers and community organizations working to strengthen �ֻ�ֱ��’s local food system. The collaborative connects student agriculture education with broader efforts to increase local food production and food security.

Nanook Grown produce is used in campus programs and events, sold at campus market stands and shared with community partners, including the Fairbanks Food Bank and Breadline.

The 2026 growing season will conclude with the annual Equinox Dinner on Friday, Sept. 18, at The Pub in the Wood Center. The five-course dinner will feature Central and South American-inspired dishes prepared with student-grown and �ֻ�ֱ��-grown ingredients, paired with beers from Fairbanks breweries. Tickets are $65 and . Limited subsidized tickets are available for UAF students who need financial assistance.

Proceeds from the event support the Nanook Grown Student Gardener Training Program.