NW Missouri Times

U.S. Bank Wealth Management has granted $25,000 to Northwest Missouri State University and the Northwest Foundation to aid in developing a micro-creamery at the university's Agricultural Learning Center. The funds were sourced from two charitable trusts: $20,000 from the Gary G. Taylor Trust and $5,000 from the Harry and Helena Messick Charitable Trust, both managed by U.S. Bank Wealth Management.

The micro-creamery is set to be part of the 29,500-square-foot Agricultural Learning Center at R.T. Wright Farm, which opened in 2021 to support the School of Agricultural Sciences. This facility aims to enhance curriculum offerings and address infrastructure needs on the 448-acre farm.

Plans for the micro-creamery were approved by Northwest’s Board of Regents in 2023, with completion expected this spring. Courtney Jimenez, assistant vice president and trust officer for U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, expressed pride in supporting this project: “U.S. Bank, on behalf of the Taylor and Messick charitable trusts, is proud to award these funds for the micro-creamery expansion.”

The university maintains a dairy herd of about 70 cattle at R.T. Wright Farm for educational purposes but lacks processing facilities. The new project will enable students and regional producers to engage fully in dairy production processes, including herd management, milk collection, processing, safety testing, and potentially marketing dairy products.

Northwest also aims to bolster Missouri's dairy industry by providing expanded education and training opportunities through this initiative. Additionally, they received $250,000 from the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority via the Show-Me Entrepreneurial Grants for Agriculture program to assist with equipment purchases for the micro-creamery.

For those interested in contributing to Northwest University's projects like the micro-creamery can contact the Northwest Foundation.