MSNBC Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzenzinski will join Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack next Tuesday at a "Day of Celebration" recognizing 150th anniversary of USDA, the department's communications office announced today.

On May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to create the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the USDA noted in a press release. Two and one-half years after establishing the department, in what would be his final annual message to the Congress, Lincoln called USDA “The People’s Department.”

Also joining Tuesday's event:

• Conservationist Chuck Leavell, longtime keyboard player for the Rolling Stones and founder of Mother Nature
• Art Monk, NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver and former Washington Redskin
• LaVar Arrington, three-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker and former Washington Redskin.

The celebration will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the cafeteria of the South Building at USDA. An agency source said that some employees have been given tickets for the cafeteria and others for the Jefferson Auditorium, while remaining employees will be encouraged to hold “watch” parties in their offices.

The public will be able to watch the event live online.

On Monday, Vilsack will host the USDA’s May “virtual office hours” on Twitter so that he can talk about the 150th anniversary, major accomplishments and the future of agriculture and food. The secretary will also answer questions about “the past, present and future of USDA as an every day, every way department,” USDA said in a news release today.

• USDA 150th anniversary celebration website