Oklahoma State University broke ground at the project site for the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall, a new building for OSU Agriculture today on the Stillwater campus. The facility will strengthen the three pillars of the university’s land-grant mission: research, teaching and Extension.

“OSU Agriculture has the most dedicated donors and alumni behind it, and their support of the New Frontiers campaign shows the significance of this new facility,” said President Burns Hargis. “This new building would not be possible without the support of our loyal and true donors who stepped up to invest not just in bricks and mortar but in the agricultural innovations of tomorrow.”

The facility will prioritize hands-on teaching and flexible research environments that can adapt for years to come, and a strong sense of community through strategically designed gathering spaces. With modern teaching methods in mind, adaptable lab spaces will be available to serve multiple disciplines and interactive classrooms will harness students’ energy and the excitement of innovation.

“This project will modernize our research and the way we teach scientific subjects,” said Thomas Coon, OSU’s vice president for agricultural programs and dean of the Ferguson College of Agriculture. “It will transform Oklahoma’s economy, fostering innovation that will feed a growing world population.”

More than 87 percent of the $50 million fundraising goal has been met with the support of more than 330 generous donors. The campaign kicked off in January 2020 with a lead gift of $25 million to the building project from Kayleen and Larry Ferguson and the Ferguson Family Foundation. The Fergusons joined fellow Cornerstone Donors — those who committed to gifts of $1 million or more — at the event to participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking.

“In any building, the cornerstone determines the position and the strength of the entire structure and sets the direction of progress,” Coon said. “Our Cornerstone Donors are the foundation of this campaign and without their selfless leadership, we would not be as successful.”