OSU Agriculture dedicates new Agricultural Hall

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Media Contact: Mandy Gross | Sr. Manager of Strategic and VP Communications | 405-744-4063 | mandy.gross@okstate.edu

More than 300 Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture faculty, staff, alumni and friends gathered on Oct. 5 to dedicate and celebrate the opening of Agricultural Hall, the new home for OSU Agriculture.

The OSU Foundation partnered with OSU Agriculture to host the building dedication and a Ferguson College Family Tailgate before the Cowboy football game against the University of West Virginia.

“This ceremony marks the completion of our cutting-edge facility and a time to celebrate the significance of how OSU Agriculture is advancing the land-grant mission of teaching, research and Extension,” said Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “I want to thank the Cowboy family and friends for supporting the New Frontiers campaign and making this building a reality.”

The Cowboy Marching Band kicked off the festivities, followed by remarks from Lusk, OSU President Kayse Shrum, OSU/A&M Board of Regents Chair Jimmy Harrel and Ferguson College of Agriculture student Hailey Spray.

Baylee Bowen, an agribusiness and agricultural communications senior from Chandler, Oklahoma, and Easton Fraser, an animal science senior from Grapevine, Texas, joined Spray, a food science senior from Riverton, Wyoming, as they cut a large, orange ribbon to dedicate Agricultural Hall.

“It is an honor to participate in the dedication of the new home for the Ferguson College of Agriculture,” Spray said. “The building stands as not only a home to new classrooms, labs and offices but also a testament to our alumni’s passion toward the collaboration and innovation they want to continue to spark from our college.”

In addition to Saturday’s dedication and tailgate, New Frontiers cornerstone and major gift donors were invited to an open house to visit their named spaces on Oct. 4.

More than 600 donors have contributed to the New Frontiers campaign, helping build the state-of-the-art facility. This includes 10 cornerstone donors of $1 million or more, 104 major gift donors and 31 major gift industry donors and corporate donors.

The New Frontiers campaign reached its fundraising goal in record time. It is recognized as one of the fastest capital campaigns at OSU and the first academic capital campaign of this magnitude to reach its campaign goal before the building opened.

“OSU Agriculture has some of the most loyal and dedicated friends and alumni,” Shrum said. “Their support for this project speaks to the significance of this facility. This project embodies our land-grant mission and supports the important role OSU Agriculture plays in the lives of Oklahomans and the state’s economy.”

To learn more about the New Frontiers campaign, construction progress and opening of Agricultural Hall, view the Experience the Journey to New Frontiers video.

Story By: Ainsley Treesh | ainsley.treesh@okstate.edu