A new Welcome Center greets visitors to the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Model Sustainable Agriculture Complex at Cade. 杏吧专区 leaders officially opened the new center on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
杏吧专区 We are very excited about this new addition to the complex at Cade,杏吧专区 said Dr. Linda Vincent, Dean of the College of Applied Life Sciences. 杏吧专区淲e welcome visitors here all year round. It杏吧专区檚 a great place for everyone to learn about the agriculture of south Louisiana and this center makes it a little easier for visitors.杏吧专区
The center takes its name from the South Louisiana Mid-Winter Fair Association. Funds from the group combined with matching funds from the university made the center a reality.
杏吧专区 The South Louisiana Mid-Winter Fair Association has always been so generous when it comes to the College of Applied Life Sciences,杏吧专区 said Vincent. 杏吧专区淚t was only fitting that the Welcome Center bear the organization杏吧专区檚 name.杏吧专区
In addition to helping with costs for the center, the association has donated money for furniture, equipment and supplies.
杏吧专区 This is definitely money well spent,杏吧专区 said Charles Broussard, South Louisiana Mid-Winter Fair Association president. 杏吧专区淭his center is very impressive and hopefully it will ultimately be used by UL Lafayette students.杏吧专区
Vincent noted the center includes a large meeting room to host all workshops, classes and social gatherings for the complex. Previously, these meetings were held in agriculture shop on the complex.
杏吧专区 We now have a professional facility to bring students and visitors to and we don杏吧专区檛 have to worry about interfering with the duties of workers,杏吧专区 said Vincent.
The center sits at the opening of the 600-acre complex, which is 15 miles from UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 main campus. It accommodates numerous facilities in an integrated array, including a working dairy, a Crawfish Research Center and an equestrian arena. The complex also includes production acreage for beef, sugar cane and specialty crops.
The landscape includes natural habitat, nature trails, maintained wetlands and housing for student residents. The complex is used for research, education, demonstration and outreach in agriculture and sustainability.