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The Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. visited Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson and his family at their farm, Patterson Fruit Farm, near Chesterland, Ohio, July 23, 2024, as part of President Carter’s tour of Ohio agriculture. President Carter emphasized the importance of the partnership between The Ohio State University and Ohio Farm Bureau for more than 100 years.

“The state of Ohio is one of the centerpieces of agriculture in our country,” said Carter. “Our place with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences is a centerpiece for all of our Extension offices to help farmers be more efficient.”

Carter acknowledged the importance of agricultural research amid the rapid adoption of technology in agriculture. The university and the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are making several large investments in the infrastructure of the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, including the Multispecies Animal Learning Center. The MALC is “going to be more than just a lab facility for research for our students. It’s going to also involve K-12, so that’s going to be really exciting. We will be introducing a new dairy laboratory as well, replacing our 1972 dairy facility,” Carter said.

The MALC is expected to open in the Fall of 2025 and the new dairy facility will open in the summer of 2025. These two new facilities will join the Controlled Environment Food Production Research Complex at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory.