The University of Georgia (UGA) Griffin Campus hosted the 11th Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day Thursday at its Westbrook Research Farm on Ellis Road.

Almost 500 participants from all over Georgia flocked to the event, the majority being landowners of anywhere between 50 and 150 acres. And that was one of the target groups.

“It’s for the landowner, so he can improve the natural resources on his land,” said George Granade, chairman of the field day committee and research station superintendent at UGA.

Those who came could choose between a total of 32 demonstration sites, with topics including “Using a Chainsaw,” “Organic Gardening Techniques” and “Tree Health Care: Shade Tree Troubleshooting.”

While some demonstration sites were a continuance from the last field day in 2009, others were offered for the first time, said Granade, such as “Safely Operating a Wood Chipper” and “Promoting Bats on Private Lands.”

The Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day, which is held every three years, was sponsored by UGA, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Valley State University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Each of those sponsors had representatives speaking at the demonstration sites, which was a statement on the quality of the program, said UGA-Griffin Assistant Provost Gerald Arkin.

“You have professionals from the partnering institutions. Whatever your question is, it can be answered here,” Arkin said. “On one day, in one place, you can learn an enormous amount.”