The Auburn University College of Agriculture wants to close the gap between consumers and agriculture and raise the understanding of how food is produced.The College of Ag, the Alabama Ag Experiment Station and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are joining forces in that effort by hosting the first-ever “Ag Discovery Adventure: A Window to the Future.” The free event will be Sept. 29 at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and offers Alabamians an up-close look at 21st century agriculture. Ag Discovery Adventure includes hay rides, high-tech treasure hunts, a corn maze, precision agriculture displays, milking demonstrations and more. The events will introduce consumers of all ages and backgrounds to the world of agriculture, from crop and animal production to bioenergy and sustainability. Lisa Kriese-Anderson, Extension specialist and associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, said the theme of Ag Discovery Adventure is “consumers meet agriculture.” “This is where we begin to have an honest dialogue with consumers about where their food comes from and where they need to go to find factual information,” she said. John Fulton, Extension specialist and associate professor in biosystems engineering, added that the hands-on experiences for attendees will introduce them to the various aspects of agriculture production and modern technology used in farming.“We hope to excite the public about agriculture in the United States while educating them on the science and technology used to produce food, fiber, feed and energy,” Fulton said.Sponsors for the event include Alabama Cotton Producers, Alabama Soybean Producers and Alabama Wheat and Feed Grain Producers, all divisions of the Alabama Farmers Federation.To learn more, visit AgDiscoveryAdventure.com, or contact (334) 844-5887 or agcomm@auburn.edu.The 3,816-acre E.V. Smith Research Center is located at Exit 26 on Interstate 85, between Montgomery and Auburn.