Five new farm buildings to open at Virginia Tech this academic year

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Virginia Tech’s agriculture program is about to expand — $31 million has gone into five new buildings that will be used to teach students how to raise chickens, pigs, cattle and horses.

On a recent morning in the horse stalls at Virginia Tech. Natalie had Duncan crouched on the ground with a hammer, trying to repair a broken wooden wall that one of the horses had gone through.

“We’re long overdue for updates on our facilities,” said Duncan, who teaches in the ag school and manages the equestrian program at Virginia Tech. “We’ve been putting in a lot of money to keep them up and running, so it was a good idea to invest in new facilities.”

Volunteers Sharon Escalante and Virginia Tech student Eliza Aidar escorted two horses at Virginia Tech.

Volunteers Sharon Escalante and Virginia Tech student Eliza Aidar escorted two horses at Virginia Tech.

Duncan said she hopes the new upgrades will help them modernize and compete with larger ag schools across the country.

Sophomore Lacey White said she sneaked the top spot in the new boarding area – “The barn is amazing. Everything is installed in one facility. White competes in his school’s collegiate riding club and wants to study veterinary medicine.

Skylar Sturgill is a junior at Virginia Tech and works as a barn manager in the equine program.  She is diligently feeding mustard, which lives in the university farm and belongs to another student.

Skylar Sturgill is a junior at Virginia Tech and works as a barn manager in the equine program. She is diligently feeding mustard, which lives in the university farm and belongs to another student.

Four other buildings are expected to open sometime this school year—pig, cow, chicken and turkey programs are all getting new facilities. They are used for hands-on and classroom teaching as well as research to support the agricultural industry.



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