New CoBank Center Agricultural Education Fundraising Efforts

The new CoBank Center for Agricultural Education is located at Colorado State University's Agricultural Research, Development and now Education Center just had its ribbon cutting ceremony last week. The Colorado FFA Foundation was one the partners in fundraising for the new CoBank Center along with CSU and its College of Agriculture. Foundation Executive Director Don Thorn shares more about the successful fundraising efforts that raised the needed $3 million to build this 14,000 square foot center.

Thorn: "We have over 250 partners in the project. By doing the fundraising for the CoBank Center for Agricultural Education it really elevated our game within the ag industry. The agricultural industry has always been extremely supportive of the FFA, but the gifts that we received and the size of the gifts we were receiving really amped up our game and our credibility within our agricultural industry in Colorado. We have donors from all levels — from small gifts to very substantial six-figure gifts. Every gift was important and every gift came at the right time."

Thorn continues with the specific areas of fundraising that occurred and what is continuing

Thorn: "That campaign has two buckets — one is for the CoBank Center for the building itself. The other that we are still working on is an endowment for an instructor who will manage this facility."

In addition to the teaching classrooms, distance learning laboratory, offices, meeting space and the ag mechanics shop. The center also houses the Blue Coat Society Room and the Farm Credit Ag Hall of Fame.