On December 2, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS) staff, students, and graduates gathered along with representatives from Land O’Lakes, Inc., to celebrate the naming of the Land O’ Lakes Collaboration Center in Borlaug Hall and to experience the high-tech touch in the Land O’ Lakes Active Learning Classroom in Ruttan Hall.
“These two spaces represent just part of an historic $25 million investment in the University of Minnesota,” said CFANS Dean Brian Buhr. “Land O’ Lakes through its scholarships is supporting that foundational element of education to raise up society and agriculture’s future.
“By understanding history we see the future—these rooms will honor that history and inspire future generations of scholars to end hunger,” he said, referencing past students who include Norman Borlaug and E.C. Stakman, while addressing current and recent recipients of the Land O’Lakes Scholars program and the Global Food Challenge.
“The influence Land O' Lakes has had on my college career is tremendous,” said Schossow, B.S. Plant Science ’16, who works at ProVision Partners Cooperative in Auburndale, Wis. “Being able to remain active and involved with CFANS and Land O'Lakes makes a drive from Wisconsin negligible. I felt honored to be included and hope to continue the relationship.”
University of Minnesota Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Schmidlkofer underscored the value of the more than forty-year partnership between the dairy cooperative and the University. She encouraged everyone to delve into the richness of the relationship at the blog Building the Future Together.
Land O’Lakes President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Policinski emphasized the importance of the work being done by CFANS faculty and students to bring together science and facts into messages that lead the consumer to make informed choices and decisions about their food choices are not made based on misinformation and skewed perceptions.
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