CALF_News_Oct_Nov_2018

6 CALF News • October | November 2018 • www.calfnews.net Continued on page 8  “THIS BUILDINGWILL HAVEWORLD- CLASS FACILITIES . Ag is a 21st century enterprise and we need 21st century modern facilities. This building will accomplish that.” Those words were from the late Dean Hawkins, Ph.D., in the fall of 2016. As dean of theWest Texas A&MUniversity (WTAMU) Department of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Hawkins joined sev- eral hundred for groundbreaking ceremo- nies for the new $48 millionWTAMU Agricultural Sciences Complex. Hawkins passed away earlier this year, but his beloved words were proven more accurate than ever in late August. That’s when WTAMU ag students from across the Panhandle area and from coast to coast were welcomed into the magnifi- cent complex of classrooms, laboratories, study rooms, advanced research facili- ties and an adjoining arena to house the university’s many livestock events. They are part of the Paul Engler Col- lege of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, renamed after Engler, who last fall pre- sented WTAMU with a gift of $80 mil- lion to be used equally by the WTAMU agriculture and science education. On Sept. 7, WTAMU held a ribbon cutting that officially opened what could easily be called the “Palace of Panhandle Agriculture.” Dignitaries from Texas A&M University in College Station, Panhandle state legislators and sena- tors, and regional government, agricul- tural and academic leaders joined the celebration. John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M System, said WTAMU may now boast the finest facilities for ag educa- tion in the state of Texas.“In 2011 this complex was put on the drawing board,” he told more than 1,000 who attended the ribbon cutting.“But this is only the beginning. “What you have here is a meat lab and a complex that’s as good, maybe better, than exists in College Station or any- where else in the state of Texas, or for that matter, anywhere in the country. “What will follow is the Texas Vet- erinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, which will move here [from Amarillo] and be next to the professors and next to the students, and a veterinary educational and research lab. “Make no mistake about this, you’re going to have the best agricultural com- plex that exists anywhere in the state of Texas – and what better place to do it than in the No. 1 producing agricultural place that exists in in the state of Texas [the Panhandle area].” WTAMU President Walter Wendler, Ph.D., said the WTAMU ag and natural sciences school has seen growth that has demanded this work for over a decade. “We at WTAMU strive to meet the needs of the industries we serve,” he said. “A better example may not exist than the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.” A vision come true Wendler applauded Russell Long, Ph.D., and Pat O’Brien, Ph.D., past WTAMU presidents, for their efforts in promoting a significant growth in agricultural programs. He also saluted By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor West Texas Cuts Ribbon on New $48 Million Ag Sciences Complex ABOVE: Paul Engler’s dedication to WTAMU is helping reward regional agriculture with the finest ag facilities in Texas. New Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences Complex – “The Palace of Panhandle Agriculture.” CALF NEWS REVIEWS What’s New?