The transformation of the former BrightFarms facility into the Wilmington College AgriScience Complex received significant support in Ohio’s newly approved capital budget. Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 2 earlier this month, which includes $650,000 earmarked for Wilmington College under the area designated for improving education infrastructure across Ohio.
Last fall, the College purchased the shuttered, 120,000-square-foot hydroponic BrightFarms facility as the future site of the Wilmington College 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.
The funds are informed by the College’s partnership involving agricultural education with Southern State Community College. The public/private collaboration includes an articulation agreement in which SSCC’s agri-business majors can transfer seamlessly, with all credits accepted, to WC upon earning their associate’s degree.
President Corey Cockerill expressed WC’s appreciation for the state’s support for a facility that promises wide-ranging impact in the community and throughout Ohio. “This investment reflects the importance of agriculture to Ohio’s economy and future,” she said, noting the College is especially grateful for the partnerships that helped make this project possible. “The AgriScience Complex will create opportunities for students to learn by doing, strengthen workforce development and serve as a resource for the agricultural community across our region.”
The former BrightFarms greenhouse, which produced lettuce and other greens for area grocery stores, sits on 20 acres off Davids Drive in Wilmington. It is adjacent to the College’s 267-acre Academic Farm, a learning laboratory offering students practical hands-on experiences. Agriculture represents WC’s largest academic area with more than 300 students studying one of six agricultural concentrations. Once enrolled, those students stay at the College, which boasts a 90 percent retention rate of ag students. This spring, an impressive 95 percent of graduation candidates in agriculture, in their final semester, had already secured employment in the industry or had been accepted at graduate schools.
(ABOVE) The proposed Livestock Arena would complement the AgriScience Complex and bring back to Wilmington the Aggies' annual Judging Contest, which this spring attracted a record 1,703 participants.
Dr. Chad McKay, associate professor and area coordinator for agriculture and the holder of the Endowed Chair of Agribusiness and Leadership, expressed the department’s appreciation for the $650,000 allocated to the College. “It solidifies the belief that partners from across the state of Ohio believe in what we’re doing here and want to invest in the future of this evolving program,” he added.
The College expects areas of the AgriScience Complex to be available for student learning as soon as the fall of 2026. The eventual construction of a 120’ by 240’ livestock arena adjacent to the existing structure will complement the renovation and offer additional learning opportunities for students from around the state.
“This comprehensive facility checks the boxes for the growth of our agriculture program,” Cockerill said, adding it is a “game-changer,” representing one of the boldest moves in the nearly 80-year history of WC’s agriculture program. “The facility will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, applied research and community engagement,” she said. “A place where students train across livestock production, pre-veterinary science, meat science, agribusiness and food systems, while also advancing solutions in sustainability and food security.”
(TOP IMAGE) An architect's rendering of the combined greenhouse facility and livestock arena that would comprise the Wilmington College AgriScience Complex.