Students and families can learn how weather impacts agriculture, forestry and more thanks to a new exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. 

The Farms and Forests interactive display is part of “How We Know the Weather,” an exhibit created by the Baron Critical Weather Institute (BCWI). The 2,300-square-foot space inside Alabama’s top tourist destination features 30 meteorological marvels aimed at supporting STEM education. 

Alfa provided $100,000 over four years for the Farms and Forest section.

“No one is more in tune with the weather than farmers and timber landowners,” said Federation and Alfa President Jimmy Parnell. “For generations, farm families have watched the skies, collected data and developed innovations to harness water and reduce the impact of drought. Similarly, Alfa Insurance is committed to helping protect its customers from devastating financial losses caused by storms. We are proud to partner with the Space & Rocket Center to educate the next generation about weather.”

“How We Know the Weather” was designed by Bob Baron, who became famous as a TV meteorologist in the Tennessee Valley before establishing Baron Weather to develop better weather detection technology. Today, Baron systems are used by meteorologists across the country to predict storms and inform viewers. The nonprofit BCWI was established in 2018 to research how weather impacts the transportation industry. The institute is implementing a statewide weather observation network that provides real-time data to improve safety.

The exhibit opened to visitors March 31 and includes a broadcast corner for aspiring meteorologists, walk-in tornado shelter, real-time radar images, live cameras of current conditions and more.