The Wisconsin Pork Association recently made a donation of $10,000 to the new University of Wisconsin-Madison Meat Science Building. In addition, the WPA board challenged members to make individual contributions, resulting in an additional $5,000 raised. 

SUPPORT FOR MEATS LAB: Tammy Vassen (right), Wisconsin Pork Association executive vice president, recently met with Tom Crenshaw, animal sciences chairman at UW-Madison CALS. WPA is supporting the new Meat Science Building at UW-Madison.

“The WPA board is excited about the possibilities that the new meats lab will present to the livestock industry in the state of Wisconsin,” says Bill Gnatzig, WPA president. “The lab will further expand teaching and research abilities at UW-Madison, benefiting students, livestock producers and consumers. Those possibilities include a growing focus on biotechnology, animal and human medicine. Further research of these areas creates the potential to add more value to pigs raised by our Wisconsin farmers.” 

“The Department of Animal Sciences faculty is excited as we move into the construction phase of the new Meat Science Building," says Tom Crenshaw, animal sciences chairman, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. "The new building will dramatically improve our teaching, research and outreach programs in the meat sciences, and will provide a positive stimulus to other discipline groups in our department which focus on meat animal food production.

"The new facility is the largest construction project undertaken by our department since the Animal Sciences Building was built in the early 1970s," Crenshaw notes. "The new Meat Science Building would not have been possible without generous gifts, such as that provided by the Wisconsin Pork Association and numerous meat industry organizations. We are grateful for the support.”  

The mission of the new facility is to:
• Train the next generation of meat industry leaders with cutting-edge technologies.
• Support innovative research interests through interdisciplinary collaborative efforts.
• Provide outreach education to foster the production of wholesome meat products for the consuming public.
• Support the economic development of the meat industry.

How you can help

Construction of the 67,540-square-foot Meat Science Building is scheduled to begin in July, with occupancy slated for spring 2018. It will be built at 1930 Linden Drive, on the former site of the Seed Building. The total cost of this project is $45.7 million. The state has contributed $22.8 million, which was approved in the 2013-15 Wisconsin State Budget. UW-Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have raised $22.9 million from private donations. An additional $4 million is still needed.

Anyone interested in making a contribution to the campaign can contact Andrea Engebretson, University of Wisconsin Foundation, at 608-308-5312 or [email protected].

The Wisconsin Pork Association’s mission is to ensure the future success of the Wisconsin pork industry.  WPA represents the interests of pork industry members with a strong emphasis on social issues, public and government policies, environment, animal welfare and safety.

Source: WPA