The dedication of the new O.H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation Center at Kansas State University took place, Friday October 11, 2013. Attended by more than 300 donors, faculty, students and alumni, the $13 million facility is the culmination of almost 25 years of planning and fund-raising.
Dirk Maier presents a commemorative plaque made by Emeritus Professor Keith Behnke, to Ronald Kruse
Dirk Maier, Professor and Head of the Department of Grain Science and Industry and Director of the International Grains Program welcomed guests and thanked all those who had contributed to the successful completion of the feedmill. In particular he honored Ronald Kruse, an alumnus of the K-State feed science program and his family, who provided the initial gift of $2 million in October 2007 to honor his father, Otto H. Kruse. The State of Kansas, Kansas Bioscience Authority, Kansas State University and its College of Agriculture provided $10 million in funding. Cash gifts and in-kind equipment donations provided the remaining resources needed for construction and equipping of the new facility.
“The Feed Technology Innovation Center will greatly benefit not only the industry, but our students and faculty as well. It is critical for our future success,” said Maier.
The center produces all feeds for the Department of Animal Science\'s research farms, conducts feed research and training.
As well as the main feed producuction plant, the facility includes an isolated BioSafety Level-2 facility: the Cargill Feed Safety Research Center is the only such facility in the United States that allows research on pathogens found in feed and feed ingredients, such as salmonella and E-coli.
The Department of Grain Science and Industry offers courses of study leading to degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy in grain science. it also offers annual short courses in feed manufacturing and grain management and aquaculture feed production.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to utilize the new O.H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation Center in our courses, which will bring more opportunities for our participants to get hands-on training with the latest technology and equipment,” said Carlos Campabadal, feed manufacturing specialist and course manager at IGP.
The feed science management program at Kansas State University has provided nearly 700 graduates to the U.S. feed manufacturing industry in the nearly 60 years since the industry helped to establish the program at the university.
