USU President Stan Albrecht announced a donation of $400,000 for the USU Equine Education Center at the center’s groundbreaking ceremony Friday.

Albrecht said The ALSAM Foundation’s donation will be used to complete the first phase of the Equine Education Center. Phase one is construction of a 150-by-300 indoor arena, horse stables and site improvements. The foundation was started by the Skaggs family, and part of the center will be named the “Sam Skaggs Family Stable” in their honor.

According to a press release, the cost to build phase one will total $2.9 million.

Albrecht said ALSAM Foundation representatives signed the donation’s paperwork 30 minutes before the groundbreaking ceremony.

Ronny Cutshall, president of ALSAM Foundation, said the Skaggs family had a ranch in Idaho and has been involved in agriculture for a long time. Along with agriculture, the Skaggs family emphasizes education, so the donation was a good fit, Cutshall said.

Noelle Cockett, dean of the College of Agriculture and vice president for Extension and Agriculture, said the center is still looking for more donations and horse stalls can be named for a $10,000 donation.

Albrecht said the $400,000 gift will significantly help pay for the center, and the rest of the money will come from College of Agriculture funds and gifts from other sources. In a time of budget cuts, Albrecht said some campus community members express concern over creating new buildings while university salaries are being cut. The university receives gifts, or one-time donations, specifically for the purposes of building and that’s what the university has to use it for.

“What people need to realize is we can’t deflect (money from these gifts) to salaries,” he said.

Cockett said the college has a significant need for the new Equine Education Center.

“It has an impact not only to our students but throughout Utah and the region,” she said.

The old equine building was located at 1400 North and 600 East across the street from Lee’s Marketplace. It was built in the 1970s and was beginning to show its years, she said.

When building of the Innovation Campus began at the same location, the agriculture research buildings in the area were moved to the South Farm in Wellsville. The Matthew Hillyard Animal, Teaching and Research Center was opened in May, and a sheep facility was also built at the South Farm. Construction of a new USTAR building on the Innovation Campus was the last push to build a new equine building at the South Farm, she said.

Once the decision to make a new center began, plans were developed and administrators began looking for financial help from donors, Cockett said. The campaign successfully raised $1.6 million and the decision to start building was made, even though the project is not yet completely financed. The price of construction is currently favorable, and she said the building will allow local construction workers to get involved.

The beginning stages of building have been a long-time coming, Cockett said, and “students have been patient but fully engaged” in the process.

Once money has been secured, construction will begin on the rest of the center. This will include 22 more horse stalls in the east wing and an outdoor arena, which will host USU rodeo events and things like breeding pens.

The fully built center will house classes on equine science such as genetics and reproduction. Students will have hands-on classes in riding and horse training. Cockett said the arena will also be used by the USU equestrian team, local 4-H events and community events.

Equine science has always had a presence at USU. When the Board of Trustees approved the equine bachelor’s program 12 months ago, Cockett said 20 students enrolled. The program now has almost 40 students and Cockett said she anticipates the number will grow to 150 students in the near future.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, 13-year-old Branden Turner from Amalga and member of 4-H said, “My best friends are horses.”

His favorite horse was purchased from USU and went through the colt training program. Turner said this horse taught him traits such as goal-setting and patience. The horse died Aug. 28, and Turner said he hopes to buy his next horse from USU. Turner also said he hopes to study equine science at USU when he becomes old enough.

Jessica Dube, senior in equine science, said students in the program are required to clean stalls. Dube said she was glad to do it because not only did she get an education, she also learned a good-work ethic.

– rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu