Details are being finalized in preparation for celebrating 100 years of Texas AgriLife Research on Sept. 17 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock.

The center is located at 1102 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1294 north of Lubbock.

Dr. Jaroy Moore, resident director of research at the facility, said since its 1909 establishment the center has been and continues to be the leader in the research and development of many of the leading crop technologies and practices used across the South Plains today.

The celebration starts Sept. 16 with a casual evening reception honoring the many AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service former employees, retirees, and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service personnel associated with the center. Call 806-746-6101 for reservations and details.

Sept. 17 activities, which are open to the public, will begin at 10 a.m with registration, followed by a formal program at 10:30 a.m. in the center’s auditorium and an afternoon field tour at 1:30 p.m.

The morning program will include remarks by Moore, AgriLife Research-affiliated dignitaries, area legislators and county and city elected officials.

“State Sen. Robert Duncan, who serves Lubbock County, is scheduled to speak,” Moore said. “Sen. Duncan graciously sponsored Senate Resolution 850 during the 81st Legislative Session which recognizes the work of our center and honors our centennial celebration. He will be sharing that resolution with us as part of his remarks during the morning program.”

The morning program will end at noon following an in-depth historical presentation featuring photos and a narrative of the research efforts conducted by Center personnel on the South Plains over the past century.

A noon meal is planned at the Center, but organizers ask anyone planning to eat lunch on Sept. 17 to RSVP by noon on Sept. 14 by calling the center at 806-746-6101, so meal plans can be made.

“We especially want to invite the public to our afternoon field tour,” Moore said. “The tour will highlight not only the historical aspects of the Center, but also current research programs being conducted here and the impact they will have in the future.”

Tour stops will include corn, cotton and sorghum breeding work, crop protection (weeds, insects, diseases) research, cotton harvesting, water and fertility and viticulture projects.

For more information, call the center at 806-746-6101 or visit: http://lubbock.tamu.edu and click on centennial celebration information.