Student Introductions: Rita Graef, Pasto Ag Museum Curator

“Connecting the history and science of our agricultural past to the present day.” 

That’s what I do, or try to do, each day that I serve as steward of a fabulous collection of tools and artifacts used in farming and rural life from a time before gas engines and electricity.

My name is Rita Graef and I have been the curator for the Pasto Agricultural Museum since 2011. I am responsible for the museum collection and exhibits, managing volunteer and donor relationships, overseeing facilities and operations, planning and implementing programming, marketing and fundraising initiatives. 

The Pasto Agricultural Museum is part of the College of Agricultural Sciences, and located in the middle of the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Farm, nine miles southwest of State College Pennsylvania. 




We are surrounded by cutting edge research work in Agronomy, Plant Science, Entomology, and Horticulture. Special projects nearby include investigations in Sustainability practices, American Chestnut breeding, and more. Each August, Ag Progress Days brings Penn State research and extension education, as well as new tools and equipment, practices and ideas to the mid-Atlantic region’s farmers.

I am excited to participate in AEE530 as I try to better understand teaching and learning in agricultural science for the audiences I work with.

Email: rsg7@psu.edu

Blog: http://implementblog.blogspot.com/

Pasto Agricultural Museum info at www.agsci.psu.edu/Pasto and https://www.facebook.com/PastoAgMuseum