NWFCS Donation Will Help Several WSU Ag Efforts

A variety of Ag research and outreach programs at Washington State University will benefit from a recent $2 million donation announced by Northwest Farm Credit Services. Funds will go to benefit the new WSU Honey Bee and Pollinator Research, Extension, and Education Facility in Othello, the Dairy Science Program, Washington State 4-H, the Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center and the WSU chapter of the student organization Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

“From its very founding, WSU has stood side-by-side with Washington’s agriculture industry—the state’s largest—to bring agricultural innovation and technology across the state,” said WSU president Kirk Schulz. “WSU is proud to partner with Northwest Farm Credit Services in a shared commitment to advance the teaching, research, and applied outreach with the agriculture industry that benefits each of us every day.”

Each project and program has specific uses for their portion of the donation. Both the Viticulture and Enology program and the bee facility will be able to complete long-term projects. 4-H will institute an Eco-Stewardship Program and have added support for their Virtual Experience, a necessity for youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. MANRRS will establish a club endowment that will generate funding in-perpetuity.

“As part of Northwest Farm Credit’s stewardship commitment to improve the lives of our customers, communities, and industries we serve, we are investing funds in education and research across the Northwest,” said Josh Siler, Northwest Farm Credit Services, Washington President. “WSU’s agricultural programs are making an impact through research initiatives and educating the next generation of agriculture. This investment allows programs to modernize equipment to meet today’s industry standards to benefit students for years to come. We are excited to see Washington agriculture continue as a vital source of our global food supply.”

“We are thrilled with the support for our students, our research, and our facilities,” said André-Denis Wright, dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “Our long-term partnership with Northwest Farm Credit Services is so important to us. Their dedication to the future of the agriculture industry in Washington and around the Pacific Northwest will have impacts for years to come.”

“The philanthropic impact of Northwest Farm Credit Services’ investment in WSU’s cutting-edge agricultural research, extension, and 4-H student programs demonstrates their commitment to growing knowledge and prosperity for rural communities across our state,” said Mike Connell, Acting Vice President of WSU Advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation.

WSU programs supported by the NWFCS donation include: