By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH

Indiana Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A new building for the Franklin County extension office is one of four projects planned for the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus.

The Kunz-Brundige extension building is expected to open by the middle of November. Over the next couple years, the university plans to construct a controlled environment food production facility and a multi-species animal learning center at the 261-acre site. Officials will also spend about $1 million to improve the existing dairy operation at Waterman.

“We think these improvements are really critical to the development of Waterman lab,” explained Graham R. Cochran, professor and associate dean for operations in OSU’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. “It can be a hub for learning. Adding these facilities will allow it to be used more.

“There are a lot of pretty important and divisive issues in agriculture today. This will give us the opportunity to engage the public. There’s also an opportunity for OSU students to get involved in learning about animals. One of our goals is the idea of what would it take to get every OSU student there at one point.”

OSU purchased the site from Anna Waterman in 1923. In addition to the dairy, the laboratory includes a stream, forested woodlot, green pastures, corn and soybean plots, apple orchards, and honeybees.

“OSU is different from many of our land-grant university peers,” Cochran noted. “Having a land-grant university and a working farm in a city the size of Columbus is pretty special. Agriculture was a cornerstone as to why OSU was founded. Agriculture is just as relevant today.”

Funding for the facilities and improvements at Waterman will come from a combination of public money, philanthropy and public-private entities, he said.

For the 10,500 square-foot extension building, $5 million of the $5.2 million cost came from a donation from Pat Brundige, a former 4-H student and longtime advocate for OSU extension. When the staff moves into the building, it will be the first time county extension has occupied a facility on campus, Cochran said.

“We think the extension program’s outreach work will be one of the most important things we’ll do at Waterman,” he explained. “The facility will include a teaching kitchen and nice classroom space. With the garden around the building, they can teach about growing and harvesting, and show ways to prepare food.”

Officials hope to begin construction during the first half of next year on a Controlled Environment Food Production Research Complex, which has a budget of up to $35 million. The facility is currently in the latter stages of design work.

“Controlled environment agriculture is a major focus of education and research,” Cochran pointed out. “It will include greenhouse space, along with room for offices and laboratories. Research in the facility will focus on what’s being used in the industry today, including smart technology and artificial intelligence.”

Nationwide Insurance, headquartered in Columbus, has given $2.8 million toward the design of the food production complex and $5 million toward construction, he said. The university is working to raise additional funds.

OSU officials have been talking for a long time regarding the need for a multi-species animal learning center on campus, said Maurice Eastridge, a professor of animal sciences. Design work is just beginning for the building, which has a tentative groundbreaking date in the spring of 2021.

The facility will include space for horses, poultry, pigs, small ruminants, and beef cattle. Classrooms and an arena are also planned.

“Various studies and consultants have recognized that a facility at the Waterman complex for use of animals for teaching, on-campus classes, and for outreach education would be very valuable,” Eastridge noted. “Educational material displays will allow the public to learn about food production. The arena will also allow for outreach education.”

The upgrade to the current dairy operation will include a robotic milking system for the 100-head Jersey herd, Cochran said. A viewing area for students and the public will also be installed, as will a robotic feeding system.