STEPHENVILLE — Tarleton State University is expanding its successful partnership with Opal’s Farm to offer urban agriculture education across all campuses.
What began as a grassroots effort to improve access to fresh, healthy foods in one Fort Worth neighborhood has developed into an innovative education model that Tarleton State is now bringing to Stephenville, with course instruction also available online to make the program more accessible to students in Waco, Bryan and online.
Taste the C.U.R.E. (Community Urban Farming Resource Education) is a free community education program launching its second year in January 2026. This six-month initiative equips participants with the knowledge and skills to cultivate a sustainable food system through organic and regenerative farming.
Led by Tarleton State and Opal’s Farm, an urban farm located along the Trinity River in Fort Worth, the initiative emphasizes empowering individuals to grow their own food and improve their health through agriculture. The next cohort will have openings for 50 participants, with plans for broader community engagement and long-term impact.
Program Structure and Schedule
The program includes an introductory orientation class on Jan. 31, 2026, followed by 10 bimonthly classes held on Saturdays. Instruction is delivered through a combination of methods.
- Virtual instruction: Core classroom-based learning will be conducted online.
- On-site practicum: Participants will gain hands-on, functional experience with organic and regenerative farming techniques at a partner farm site. Plots will be reserved at Opal’s Farm for the Fort Worth cohort and at Tarleton State for participants in Stephenville.
For many residents across these regions, the Taste the C.U.R.E. program will be an entirely new opportunity to learn sustainable, organic growing practices that support long-term community health. As food insecurity and limited access to fresh produce continue to affect families statewide, Tarleton State, in partnership with Opal’s Farm, aims to provide a practical, empowering solution that aligns with the historic agricultural mission the university was founded upon.
By making the on-site practicum portion of Taste the C.U.R.E. available in Stephenville and introducing the model to students on all campuses through online education, Tarleton State is cultivating a new wave of community-driven agriculture that encourages self-sufficiency and healthier living.
Applications are now open and will be accepted through Dec. 19. Space for the spring 2026 cohort is limited, and community members interested in participating are encouraged to apply early at: www.tarleton.edu/gcfgi/opals-farm/.
Applicants will be notified of acceptance on or before Jan. 7, 2026.
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