皇冠体育365赌博&移动商务 Breaks Ground on New Agricultural Multipurpose Center, Gamebird 研究 Center

皇冠体育365赌博&M University-商务 conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, March 18 to begin construction of a new Agricultural Multipurpose 教育 & Training Center and a gamebird research center, both located on State Highway 24 south of 商务.

4500万美元, 大约有190,000-square-foot agricultural facility will serve as a dynamic hub for agricultural research, 教学, 经济发展, 国际学生交换, and knowledge transfer initiatives in a wide range of fields, 包括可持续农业, 动物科学, 都市农业, 马的研究和更多.

该综合体将以食品加工实验室为特色, 领域的实验室, 还有举办教育会议的空间, 农业博览会, 和竞赛.

未来的Ted & Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird 研究 was also recognized at the ceremony. The gamebird center was kickstarted by a $1 million gift from the Lyon family in 2022, the largest all-cash gift with immediate impact in university history.

The Lyon Center, which will be located along Highway 24 approximately 1.在大学校园以南5英里处, will include a state-of-the-art quail research and production facility, 湿地研究站, 大教室和会议空间, 湿地及高地自然径, and office space for gamebird faculty and students.

开幕式，A&移动商务 总统 Mark Rudin recognized several special guest speakers, including 皇冠体育365赌博&大学系统董事John Bellinger, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, State Representative and A&移动商务 alum Gary VanDeaver (District 1), and State Senator Bryan Hughes (District 1).

出席活动的还有:

  • 州代表Jill Dutton(第2区)
  • 州代表Cole Hefner(第5区)
  • 娜塔莉·斯坦肖尔特是美国农业部的副主任.S. 众议员基思·赛尔夫(第三区)
  • 艾迪·威尔，A&移动商务 undergraduate student majoring in Animal Science, member of the A&移动商务竞技团队
  • Aujarai Ivy, A&移动商务 graduate student majoring in Biological & Environmental Sciences, Lyon Scholar and Quail 研究 Assistant
皇冠体育365赌博&M University-商务 总统 Mark Rudin (left) shakes hands with 皇冠体育365赌博&M大学系统 Chancellor John Sharp at the groundbreaking event for the Agricultural Multipurpose Center and the Ted & Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird 研究 | Photo: Matt Strasen, A&移动商务营销与传播

Regent Bellinger expressed excitement for the potential educational opportunities brought about by these new facilities.

“I can't thank the Texas Legislature and the Lyon family enough for believing in agriculture,贝林格说. “These facilities will house our future agriculture leaders.”

Chancellor Sharp emphasized the importance of providing state-of-the-art agricultural education in an ever-changing world.

“As long as you want to eat, agriculture is going to be important,夏普说. “This agriculture complex that is being built here will be one of the best in the United States. Thank you to the members of the legislature and the Board of Regents who helped to bring cutting-edge agriculture back to Texas.”

He also touted the future Lyon Center for Gamebird 研究 as a boon for not only Texas quail populations but also the state's economy.

“Quail hunting is an $8 billion enterprise for the state of Texas, and we've had about an 80-percent decline in the state's quail population since the 1960s,夏普说. “如果鹌鹑回到德克萨斯州, it's going to be because of this complex being built here at A&移动商务.”

Representative VanDeaver said he believes that this event marked a major milestone for the future of agriculture in North and East Texas.

“This represents the beginning of a new opportunity for hands-on learning in agriculture,范德·迪弗说. “在这些设施中, tomorrow's agricultural leaders will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to impact the future of agriculture.”

Senator Hughes said that the new facilities will broaden the university's impact on the agriculture and economy of Texas.

休斯说:“这所大学是一个特别的地方. “Its impact regionally and statewide is hard to measure and is growing a whole lot more with what is happening today.”

查看 相片画廊 奠基仪式上.

Top image: A photo 奠基仪式上 for the Agricultural Multipurpose 教育 and Training Center and the Ted and Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird 研究. 从左至右依次为. Randy Harp, State Representative Gary VanDeaver, State Representative Jill Dutton, A&John Bellinger, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, former State Senator Ted Lyon, A&移动商务 总统 Mark Rudin, State Representative Cole Hefner and State Senator Bryan Hughes.