The emerging AgriScience Complex at Wilmington College continues to gain outside support as AgCredit presented a $25,000 check during a visit by company officials earlier this week.
Last fall, the College purchased the shuttered, 120,000-square-foot hydroponic BrightFarms facility in Wilmington as the future site of the AgriScience Complex. The massive space — two acres under roof — is being transformed into classrooms and laboratories with an upgraded greenhouse infrastructure to support advanced agricultural research, sustainability initiatives and workforce training. It will become a state-of-the-art center for teaching and practicing the science of controlled environment agriculture. Classes will be held in the facility starting in August. Also, the College plans to build an adjacent livestock arena.
Brian Ricker is the CEO and president of AgCredit, a nearly 8,000-member-owned cooperative in 18 counties in northwest and central Ohio. He expressed the company’s satisfaction with supporting agriculture in Ohio and the preparation of future professionals and practitioners in the industry. “I’ve been impressed with the importance Wilmington College puts on hands-on — not everything is learned in the classroom,” he said. “That hands-on experience sets the tone for agricultural education. The (AgriScience Complex) is an impressive facility, and we look forward to partnering in the future.”
The AgCredit executive team that visited that facility for the check presentation and tour also included Dusty Sonnenberg, chair of the Board of Directors; David White, account manager; and Andrea Bayles, lending manager, who also is a 2009 graduate of the College’s agribusiness program.
Cockerill shared information about WC’s marquee program in agriculture in which some 30 percent of main campus undergraduate students are enrolled. The AgriScience Complex is part of the College’s 287-acre “living learning laboratory,” she said, stressing the practical, experiential and hands-on nature of the program. “Students gain confidence when they’re out in the field learning by doing.” She said the facility will provide students with experience in controlled-environment agriculture that is “more than just growing,” also including marketing/branding, distribution, logistics, packaging and more.
Cockerill also shared plans for the construction of an adjacent livestock arena, which will be used year-round but will give WC the ability to host the Aggies’ Judging Contest on-site instead of two counties away. The 68th annual event in March attracted a record 1,703 high school and junior high students to judge general livestock, dairy, equine, poultry and agronomy.
While students will begin using the AgriScience Complex this fall, the College is counting on outside support for the facility to achieve full effectiveness as both an educational and community asset. Indeed, the president noted that the vision for this facility has always depended on partnerships.
“While Wilmington College has made a significant investment, philanthropic support is what will allow us to fully realize its potential as a regional center for agricultural education, workforce development and innovation,” she added. “AgCredit’s generous support is an outstanding example of the partnerships helping bring this vision to life and create lasting opportunities for our students.”
Tammy Shadley, vice president/chief alumni and advancement officer, echoed the president’s sentiments. “Philanthropic support is essential in realizing our dreams for this new complex,” she said. “We are excited to share our vision with prospective donors and are extremely grateful for those who have already made an investment in this amazing opportunity for not only our students but the entire community.”
TOP PHOTO: Pictured at the check presentation, from the left, are: David White, AgCredit account manager; Dusty Sonnenberg, chair of the AgCredit's Board of Directors; Brian Ricker is the CEO and president of AgCredit; WC President Corey Cockerill; Andrea Bayles, lending manager with AgCredit; and Tammy Shadley, vice president/ chief alumni and advancement officer at WC.