[Antigo, Wis.] – The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association along with its members, yesterday encouraged Wisconsin state legislators to add additional funding in the state budget to help complete the construction for the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover. The Farming for the Future Foundation is encouraging legislative leaders to add an additional $10 million in funding in the new biennial budget to move this project one step closer to completion and opening in 2023.
Wisconsin has a rich agricultural history, and the goal of the Center is to help citizens understand how their food is grown and how important agriculture is to the state. This world-class facility will provide hands-on learning opportunities and workforce development training for students as well as the public.
“With the Food + Farm Exploration Center’s location in the heart of our state, this state-of-the-art facility will give Wisconsinites and visitors alike a chance to learn about the importance of multi-generational farm families and industry leaders like those members of the WPVGA,” said Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. “The impact of the Center will be felt across Wisconsin as it creates connections between the public and one of our state’s most important industries—agriculture.”
The Food + Farm Exploration Center will create at least 24 new jobs. The facility will be on 24 acres and include 53,000 square feet of hands-on learning space, 5,000 square feet of conference and indoor event space, 40,000 square feet of outdoor event space, and four acres of agricultural teaching fields.
The Center will also focus on STEM education and the development of the next generation of the agricultural workforce. There will be onsite and classroom curriculum consistent with the state’s STEM initiatives. Through its programs, the Center hopes to engage students by showing them why a career in agriculture can be rewarding.
For more information or to join the effort, visit www.FoodandFarm.us
