Fort Valley State University hosted its second annual 4H/ FAA Ag Field Day on Saturday to recruit students to the university.

The university currently faces a budget crisis due to low enrollment numbers because of a decrease in financial funding and higher admission requirements according to Executive Vice President Dr. Canter Brown. However the school is hosting events like Ag Day to generate interest in the university and some of its premiere programs.

"It's not just about agriculture, it's about the educational opportunities at Fort Valley State University,” FVSU Director of Outreach and Marketing for College of Agriculture, Family Science and Technology Donavon Coley said. “Our President has said that enrollment, enrollment, enrollment so we're looking at that."

More students is what FVSU needs now after a sudden drop in enrollment created a $5.2 million hole in the school's budget. However school leaders hope to change that with events like Ag Day that show college is more than just studying.

More than 600 students between 5th and 12th grade in 4-H programs across Middle Georgia interacted with animals and played games like football toss and corn hole. They also watched a biofuel-making demonstration and interacted with FVSU’s Life on the Farm animals. All these activities were a way for students to see if Fort Valley State is the school for them.

"It's an opportunity so the students can relax and see agriculture in a way such that it's not always educational," Coley said.

While enrollment decreased as a whole at the university, the school's College of Agriculture actually saw an increase of students this year. After the event, students watched the school's football team take on Benedict College.