The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will visit Ole Butler farm again for a half-day tour to highlight the institution's extensive work with legumes and grasses.

This farm tour, which follows up last summer's tour of the Butler farm, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, May 1, in Vashti, Texas, in Clay County. The farm tour is free and open to the public.

Ole Butler is a longtime farmer and rancher in north Texas, and his son Twain Butler, Ph.D., is a Research Forage Agronomist in the Forage Improvement Division of the Noble Foundation. The Butlers have numerous test and demonstration plots on their farm which highlight the Noble Foundation's agricultural efforts.

During Thursday's tour, Noble Foundation consultants will focus on Flecha fescue/summer legume mixtures and winter legumes, grazing management, plant identification, seedbed preparation and soil sampling demonstrations. There will also be a discussion about hay costs and alternatives.

"Farm tours are an excellent opportunity for people to interact with Noble Foundation agricultural specialists, ask questions and learn about the Noble Foundation's extensive work with forages," said Shan Ingram, Education and Special Projects Manager. "I hope those who are interested will join us and take advantage of this unique opportunity."

Tour participants will meet at 8:30 a.m. in the Vashti Baptist Church (6109 FM 1288 S., Bellevue, Texas) parking lot and caravan out to the Butlers' farm. Lunch will be provided following the farm tour at the Baptist Fellowship Hall. To register for the tour or for additional information, please contact Annie Coble at 580.224.6501 or Lori Heman at 580.224.6430.

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News Release Issued: April 28, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.