After almost doubling enrollment in three years, OTC's ag program seeks funds to expand
To add space for its fast-growing agriculture program, Ozarks Technical Community College is asking for help from the state.
The Springfield college requested $2.5 million in funding from the MoExcels Workforce Initiative to construct a new facility for two programs — agriculture and electrical distribution systems, commonly known as lineworkers — on the Richwood Valley campus.
If approved in the 2023 legislative session, the college will work to seek private donations in matching funds for the $5 million project.
Plans for the 15,000-square-foot facility include office space, five classrooms, restrooms and room for students to congregate.
"When we built our current facility, we knew we'd grow but I don't think we knew just how much it would grow," said Cliff Davis, president of OTC's Richwood Valley campus.
The agriculture program was focused primarily on turf and landscaping before moving to the Richwood Valley in 2019, allowing for an expansion of animal science coursework and the inclusion of livestock on campus.
"When students are able to actually work with livestock and not just practice artificial insemination but actually do it and then they are part of the birthing and the maintaining, they are literally running and operating a farm here at the Richwood Valley campus," Davis said.
More:Ozarks Technical Community College has big plans for 2023. Here are 7 changes in the works
In fall 2019, there were 73 students majoring in agriculture. This past fall, it was 138 students. Roughly three out of every four students enrolled are female.
"We are now 95% animal science." Davis said.
In August, the OTC Board of Trustees approved spending $30,000 to develop a schematic design for the facility. At the meeting Monday, the board will consider taking the next step.
The board will vote on a proposal to spend $265,000 with Paragon Architecture to complete the project design and other preliminary steps so if the MoExcels funding is approved, the work of constructing the facility can start as early as July and finish within one year.
There is a strong relationship between OTC's agriculture program and the Darr College of Agriculture at Missouri State University, with many OTC graduates opting to complete their bachelor's degrees at MSU.
"The majority, if not all, of our students transfer to the Missouri State ag program," Davis said.
Davis said the classroom space is badly needed. One-third of the 90-acre Richwood Valley campus is devoted to the agriculture program, which includes a greenhouse, trees, a stream, a pond and multiple pastures.
The proposed facility will also house the office for OTC's lineworker program at Richwood Valley.
The college started the two-year program at its center in Lebanon and recently expanded it to Richwood Valley, where enrollment is capped at nearly 50 students.
Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC seeks state funds to expand ag program at Richwood Valley campus
