The School of Agricultural Sciences serves students and the agriculture industry by providing high-quality degree programs using an interdisciplinary approach. The program utilizes sustainable technologies to prepare students for the 21st century and integrates theory and application to provide one-of-a-kind services to the regional agricultural industry. Currently, the school has more than 500 students, and 119 students graduated from the program in the past year.
The mission of the School of Agricultural Sciences is to serve the students and the agricultural industry by:
Thornburg says she decided to pursue her college degree at Northwest because of the University’s outstanding agriculture program, and she stayed for its affordable tuition and quality faculty who care about seeing students succeed.
“That’s something that I think a lot of Northwest students take for granted,” she said. “Being able to see your professor in the hallway, and they recognize you and actually care for you – that’s awesome.” – Monica Thornburg ’20, B.S. Agricultural Science
In 2017, the Hubbard Center’s west wing, which had been a business incubation center, was remodeled and became the home of the School of Agricultural Sciences. The building also houses classrooms, labs and offices for faculty teaching biology, chemistry and physics.
Total square feet: 46,710 | Year built: 2009
This 448-acre facility employs a farm manager, swine herdsman and University students. The beef herd is composed of Angus and Charolais cattle. A farrow-to-finish swine operation gives students an opportunity to explore the pork industry.
The University grows corn and soybeans at the Wright Farm in addition to several acres of alfalfa and grass hay. Research also is conducted for soil analysis and global positioning.
Located at the R.T. Wright Farm, the Agricultural Learning Center (ALC) houses classrooms, laboratories, exposition and office spaces, and a kitchen. The facility offers enhanced opportunities for constituencies throughout the region through innovative learning for students, applied research and partnership within the agricultural industry as well as creating economic, educational, cultural and social engagement activities related to food and agriculture. In addition to educational space, the exposition space is available for events that host up to 300 people.
New Micro-creamery
Northwest is proposing to expand and enhance its dairy processing, and production facilities and programming to recruit additional students into the dairy industry, provide regional producers with exposure and education to the latest dairy technology and trends, and demonstrate the economic impact of on farm, value-added dairy products originating from small dairy producers.
The project will complete the build-out of the space already allocated in the Agricultural Learning Center and install micro-creamery equipment to allow for the processing of raw milk into consumable dairy products. Learn more about the micro-creamery project.
Total square feet: 29,000 | Year built: 2021
Renovated in 2023, The McKemy Center features classrooms and shops for systems management and agricultural mechanics programs. This building includes laboratory space, safety and infrastructure upgrades and welding booths. In addition to undergraduate education, the McKemy Center is also a hub to the Systems Management Academy for high school students and teachers.
Total square feet: 7,492 | Year built: 1977
The complex houses classrooms, a research laboratory and a preparatory room for horticulture students. A growth chamber can simulate any type of growing environment on earth. Seven greenhouses feature state-of-the-art technology and are heated with circulating water. They also are equipped with a warning system if the temperature drops drastically.
Total square feet: 10,426 | Year built: 1989
Located at the R.T. Wright Farm, the dairy provides plenty of hands-on instruction. The 80-plus herd of Jersey, Holstein and Brown Swiss is artificially inseminated. Cows are milked twice each day, often by student employees. The Embryo Transfer Laboratory also is housed at the dairy.
