Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Animal Science Activity Center Trying To Raise Matching Funds

The Animal Science 2000 Capital Campaign to raise $1 million in private matching funds for construction of an animal science activities center and other capital improvements in the University of Arkansas' livestock and swine facilities has received major pledges from Arkansas agricutlural organizations.

The 60,000-square-foot center will include a livestock arena "second to none in the region," said Dr. Keith Lusby, head of the UA animal science department.

The Arkansas Cattlemen's Association has pledged $100,000 to the campaign and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation has agreed to match pledges from county farm bureaus.

The Arkansas Pork Producers Association is assisting the department in acquiring equipment and facilities for swine research, teaching and extension programs, Lusby said.

The center is one of a number of improvements being made at a total estimated cost of $6.4 million to provide facilities and programs for "a nationally recognized animal science program," said Dr. Charles Scifres, dean of the university's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

"We have the state's only complete animal science program offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree and with statewide research and Extension components.

"Our animal science students deserve to have a degree from a nationally recognized teaching program, and our beef, pork and dairy producers deserve research and extension programs that provide demand-driving, timely, reliable information," Scifres said.

Dr. Tom Troxel, state leader of the animal science section of the Cooperative Extension Service, said the activities center will provide "a much needded focal point at the university for producer and industry involvement in animal science programs."

The center, to be built at an estimated cost of $2.8 million is part of a $4 million capital improvements project that also includes modern swine facilities and an abbatoir for muscle biology and meat processing teaching and research.

A USDA special grant of $1.9 million sponsored by Sen. Dale Bumpers is providing half of the funds for the project. Matching funds are being provided by an Arkansas college savings bond program bond issue and the Animal Science 2000 Campaign.

The campaign is beieg promoted by the animal science 2000 advisory council made up of 68 beef, swine and dairy producers and representatives of allied industries.

The advisory council's executive committee, chaired by Ned Ray Purtle of Purtle and Son Ranch near Hope, includes Jack Justus, representing the Arkansas Farm Bureau; Howard Young, Arkansas Cattlemen's Association; Jerry Masters, Arkansas Pork Producers Association; and Bob Spears, a Farmington dairy farmer.

Plans call for beginning construction of the activities center in the spring of 1997 and occupancy by the spring of 1998. The building will be on Garland Street north of campus in the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

The activities center will include a 25,000-square-foot arena floor, theatre room, office and reception area, and a 20,000-square-foot covered livestock holding area.

The modern arena, other improvements and an expanded faculty will help meet a goal of increasing the number of UA students majoring in animal science from 115 in the fall 1996 semester to 250 by the year 2000, Lusby said.

In addiltion to attracting students, the improvements will strengthen the UA Division of Agriculture's statewide research and Extension programs in support of the beef, swine and dairy industries, which produce annual sales of more than $500 million.

The UA commitment includes new and renovated livestock handling and pasture facilities for teaching, research and extension. Several projects have been completed or are underway in Fayetteville, at the university's Savoy Beef Research Farm near Fayetteville and at the Livestock and Forestry Branch Station near Batesville.

Lusby said state senator Steve Bell of Batesville has been instrumental in garnering suport for major improvements at the Batesville station, including a 4,800-square-foot meeting and office building, renovation of pastures, and rebuilding of the infrastructure for livestock field research.

Lusby said the 3,000-acre Batesville station "is an ideal location for the kind of research and Extension projects needed to help Arkansas producers better utilize the state's tremendous pasture resources."

Livestock research and Extension programs are also conducted at the Southwest Research and Extension Center at Hope and the Southeast Research and Extension Center at Monticello.