Future Ag Discovery Center Gaining Momentum

Future Washington Ag Discovery Center Gaining Momentum

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Several months ago, I reported on an prospective Washington agricultural educational center to be located right off of I-90 in Ritzville.

Originally the focus was on promoting wheat, now the scope has expanded to include all of Washington’s agricultural commodities in its goals of educating public on the importance of agriculture and provide one more avenue of visibility for the state’s ag industries.

One of the first steps in gaining buy-in to the concept was demonstrated by the many commodity groups that provided letters of support for a $1.5 million grant for which the project is competing.

Washington Agricultural Discovery Center and Business Park Coordinator Kris Robbins says she will continue to share the concept with the commodities across Washington State to gain support more financial support.

Robbins: “The concept is there it is planted -- no pun intended -- and now it is now a matter of just moving forward with the whole project and getting the total concept out there for them all to see.”

Washington State University will be involved commercially with a Ferdinands Ice Cream Shoppe and a Crimson & Gray merchandise store as well as housing WSU’s local extension office at the location.

Robbin urges producers of any type of ag commodity.

Robbins: “Let’s take this opportunity to tell you story. This is a great place, great time.”

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.