Left to right, as Nodaway County commissioners presented a check to Northwest representatives Thursday in support of the University's Agricultural Learning Center, are Commissioner Bill Walker; Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski; Mitzi Marchant, Northwest's director of donor engagement; Rod Barr, director of Northwest's School of Agricultural Sciences; Commissioner Chris Burns; and Commissioner Scott Walk. (Photo by Brandon Bland/Northwest Missouri State University)

The Nodaway County commissioners on Thursday presented a check for $12,500 to Northwest Missouri State University in support of the University’s Agricultural Learning Center and pledged a second gift for a total of $25,000 toward the project.

Construction on the $11.4 million Agricultural Learning Center, a linchpin addition to the University’s R.T. Wright Farm, is on pace for completion in early summer 2021. When finished, the 29,000-square-foot multipurpose facility will enhance the School of Agricultural Sciences and its curriculum by providing laboratory, kitchen and exposition space as well as classrooms and offices while helping the School meet the needs of enrollment and program growth.

The facility also will allow for research and scholarly activities centered on crop, soil and livestock resources as well as space for processing agricultural products. It will include space for public and private functions such as producer and agricultural industry meetings, workshops, shows and career development events. It will serve as a resource that enables innovation and partnerships while addressing best practices for the Northwest campus and agricultural sciences.

Commissioner Chris Burns said the county looks forward to seeing the completion of the Agricultural Learning Center and the ways it will enhance the learning of future generations in the region.

“We appreciate the partnership with Northwest and hope it continues to grow,” Burns said.

In thanking commissioners, Dr. Rod Barr, the director of Northwest’s School of Agricultural Sciences, said, “We think the project is not only going to benefit Northwest, but we think it’s going to benefit the entire county and region, and we can’t express enough sincere thanks and gratitude.”

More than $6.5 million has been raised for the Agricultural Learning Center with leading support provided by nearly 50 public and private donors who have joined the University’s Homesteaders society by providing gifts toward the project of $25,000 or greater. Northwest also received $2.5 million from the state of Missouri as well as an equipment grant award of $343,000.

The University has committed more than $2 million to the project and additional funds raised will assist with outfitting the facility’s laboratories and classrooms with the most up-to-date equipment and technology.

For more information about the Agricultural Learning Center or to make a gift to support the project visit www.nwmissouri.edu/ag/agcenter, call 660.562.1248 or email advance@nwmissouri.edu.