The College of Central Florida has officially renamed its farm campus the Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm. Approved at the Dec. 3, 2025, meeting of the District Board of Trustees, the name reflects the college’s commitment to advancing innovation in agriculture and equine education, recognizing the campus’ growing focus on precision agriculture, emerging technologies and forward-thinking workplace preparation that aligns with the future of Florida’s agricultural economy.

The new name honors the legacy of Vintage Farm, as the location at 4020 S.E. Third Ave, Ocala, has been known since the 103-acre working farm was gifted to the college by an anonymous donor in 2017.

“Changing the name to the Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm represents our dedication to the rapidly changing world of agriculture,” said Dr. John D. Ash, CF dean of business, technology and agricultural sciences. “CF is preparing future generations with the tools, technologies and experiences they need to be successful in an industry that is being driven by innovation, precision agriculture and partnerships that shape the future of food, sustainability and workforce development.”

CF will launch the state’s first Associate in Science degree in Precision Agriculture at the Center for Agricultural Innovation at Vintage Farm in August 2026, providing hands-on education including cutting-edge drone and semiautonomous tractor technologies. The campus is the home of the college’s Agribusiness and Equine Studies programs and serves as a hub for collaboration with partners such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, UF/IFAS and the Florida High Tech Corridor, supporting applied research, autonomous systems, data-driven agriculture and advanced equine studies.

“College of Central Florida is proud to be leading the way in agriculture education to prepare students for the high-tech agriculture workforce of today and tomorrow,” said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, CF vice president of workforce innovation and technology. “Our graduates are well prepared to meet the demand for highly skilled professionals in Florida’s second largest industry.”

For more information, visit CF.edu/Farm.

The College of Central Florida invites welding graduates, students and anyone interested in pursuing a career in welding to the Welding Career Expo on March 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with employers and find out about the variety of job openings in the welding industry. Many of Florida’s top welding companies and organizations will be on-site. Welders and welding students are encouraged to demonstrate their welding skills, interview on the spot and make connections with potential employers.

Prospective welding students can learn more about the field, experience hands-on demonstrations, and apply to CF’s welding program during the event. Admissions specialists will be available to help future students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at CF.edu/WeldingExpo.

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend the Preview event on Tuesday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ewers Century Center on the CF Ocala Campus, 3001 S.W. College Road.

Preview is a chance for anyone considering college to learn about the more than 170 academic pathways CF offers in seven areas of study from Arts and Sciences to Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences to Health Sciences and Teacher Education. At CF’s largest event of the year, representatives from admissions, financial aid, student services, clubs and organizations will help attendees plan their successful college experience.

New this year, high school students and their parents can attend information sessions to learn about dual enrollment and Collegiate Academy options to earn college credits while in high school.

The $30 application fee is waived for anyone who applies at the event. Attendees who complete a survey will get a CF T-shirt and will be entered to win free tuition for one 3-credit undergraduate class at the in-state tuition rate.

This free event is sponsored by CAMPUS USA Credit Union.

Additional Preview events will be held at the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Tuesday, April 7, 5-7 p.m., and the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus on Thursday, April 9, 5-7 p.m.

For more details, visit CF.edu/Preview.

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend the Preview event on Tuesday, April 7, from 5-7 p.m. at the CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus, 15390 N.W. Highway 19, Chiefland.

Preview is a chance for anyone considering college to learn about the more than 170 academic pathways CF offers in seven areas of study from Arts and Sciences to Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences to Health Sciences and Teacher Education. At CF’s largest event of the year, representatives from admissions, financial aid, student services, clubs and organizations will help attendees plan their successful college experience.

New this year, high school students and their parents can attend information sessions to explore career options, learn about dual enrollment options to earn college credits while in high school, or get details about Welding Technology programs.

The $30 application fee is waived for anyone who applies at the event. Attendees who complete a survey will get a CF T-shirt and will be entered to win free tuition for one 3-credit undergraduate class at the in-state tuition rate.

Additional Preview events will be held at the Ocala Campus on Tuesday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. and the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus on Thursday, April 9, 5-7 p.m.

For more details, visit CF.edu/Preview.

The College of Central Florida invites anyone thinking about college to attend the Preview event on Thursday, April 9, from 5-7 p.m. at the CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto.

Preview is a chance for anyone considering college to learn about the more than 170 academic pathways CF offers in seven areas of study from Arts and Sciences to Business, Technology and Agricultural Sciences to Health Sciences and Teacher Education. At CF’s largest event of the year, representatives from admissions, financial aid, student services, clubs and organizations will help attendees plan their successful college experience.

New this year, high school students and their parents can attend information sessions to learn about dual enrollment options to earn college credits while in high school.

The $30 application fee is waived for anyone who applies at the event. Attendees who complete a survey will get a CF T-shirt and will be entered to win free tuition for one 3-credit undergraduate class at the in-state tuition rate.

Additional Preview events will be held at the Ocala Campus on Tuesday, March 31, from 5-7 p.m. and the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus on Tuesday, April 7, from 5-7 p.m.

For more details, visit CF.edu/preview.

This spring, the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, will offer two art classes for teens ages 13-17.

Beginning March 7, the six-week Wheel Throwing and Hand Building class will offer teens the opportunity to develop both wheel throwing and hand building skills through engaging, functional projects. Led by artist-instructor Dawn Bergstrom, students will practice new techniques, build confidence with clay and create unique ceramic pieces as they refine their craftsmanship over the course of the session. The class meets from 2-4 p.m. on Saturdays, March 7, 14, 28 and April 4, 11, and 18 (no class on March 21). The class is $145 for Appleton members; $170 for nonmembers. Fee includes clay, glazes and kiln firing, tailored to each student’s needs.

Great for portfolio building, teens can register for a single, three-hour session with artist-instructor Lisa Russo to explore portraiture. Scheduled Saturday, May 2, 1-4 p.m., students will learn to capture likeness, with an emphasis on proportions, placement and how to define facial features, all while adding their own artistic touch. This class is $55 for Appleton members; $75 for nonmembers. All supplies are provided.

To learn more or register, visit appletonmuseum.org and select “Children & Families” from the Education dropdown menu at the top of the page. Have questions about classes or registration? Contact AppletonEducation@cf.edu.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

The College of Central Florida Foundation will host its annual Night at the Farm fundraising gala on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the CF Vintage Barn, 4020 S.E. Third Ave., Ocala.

All proceeds from the event create scholarship opportunities for College of Central Florida students. Over the past 25 years, the CF Foundation’s annual gala has raised more than $2 million to support student scholarships.

This year’s gala is presented by CAMPUS USA Credit Union, HCA Florida Healthcare, The Saint Bernard Foundation, and VITAS Healthcare. Guests will savor a farm fresh-inspired menu of heavy hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks while enjoying live instrumental music. Cocktail attire is recommended for this upscale event set under the glowing chandeliers of the college’s expansive vintage barn.

For tickets and more information, visit Nightatthefarm.org or call the CF Foundation office at 352-873-5808.

About the College of Central Florida Foundation:
The College of Central Florida Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing support for the College of Central Florida through fundraising initiatives. The Foundation’s efforts are focused on enhancing the educational opportunities and resources available to students and faculty.

The College of Central Florida’s Teacher Education program recently was recognized as the No. 1 most valuable education degree program in Florida, landing the No. 4 spot in the country as ranked by Research.com.

CF’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, designed to train teachers who wish to teach children age 3 through grade 3, was recognized for its return-on-investment ratio, and was noted for having a significant majority of students – more than 80% – who receive financial aid. According to Research.com, the ranking is built by selecting the best institutions in a location that “guarantee a good educational experience with the lowest cost possible.” CF’s tuition is about half the cost of a university and 3/4 of graduates leave the college with no student loan debt.

“Our goal at College of Central Florida is to offer a high-quality education with affordable tuition,” said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, CF vice president of Workforce Development and Innovation. “By training students in the high-demand field of teacher education, we are helping to meet Florida’s critical shortage of educators while giving graduates a competitive degree and the skills to enter this high-reward profession. Our strong partnerships with the school districts in Marion, Citrus and Levy counties support our 100% job placement rate and help keep our graduates local. Innovative aspects of CF’s Teacher Education program, such as the use of simulation software to prepare students for the realities of today’s classroom instruction and the Temporary Teacher internship program, provide our students with the tools they need to have a positive early career experience.”

For more information about CF’s Teacher Education programs, visit CF.edu/Education.

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is pleased to announce “Portraits in Passing: Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting by A.E. Kozeliski,” on view Jan. 31-June 21, 2026.

The subjects in “Portraits in Passing” are the people of the street – those encountered in daily life yet often overlooked: the wanderers, the unhoused and the forgotten. Through Tallahassee-based artist A.E. Kozeliski’s brush, these fleeting figures become thought-provoking reflections of contemporary society. Rather than traditional portraits, they capture a moment in time, revealing glimpses of humanity that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“I have embraced an ancient art form,” Kozeliski said. “And through the depiction of contemporary subject matter, I have made it my own while respecting its traditions.”

Opening in the Balcony Gallery for Florida Artists on the museum’s second floor, each work invites viewers to engage personally and to find their own stories within the faces and gestures portrayed. As subtle details reveal themselves, the once unseen become visible, gaining presence and dignity through the artist’s hand.

Rooted in the ancient traditions of Chinese brush painting, Kozeliski’s process draws on the discipline’s four foundational strokes, techniques that require mastery of brush pressure, water-ink balance, and handmade paper selection. Painting in the Mogufa (“boneless”) style, she captures not physical likeness but the energy, or qi, of her subjects. Composed without backgrounds, these minimal yet expressive portraits allow a simple line or gesture to suggest place, emotion and humanity.

Artist Talk and Demonstration
Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m.

Join Kozeliski in the auditorium on the April 4 Free First Saturday for a talk on the works featured in “Portraits in Passing.” Learn about her contemporary Chinese brush-painting techniques and enjoy a live demonstration. Free; no reservations needed to attend.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month. For more information, call 352-291-4455, or visit AppletonMuseum.org.