Board Approves Lease Of Land To PDA, Sale In Erie
January 19, 2001
University Park, Pa. — Governor Ridge recently announced the release of $5.6 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) for the construction of a new Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center.

The current facility on Fox Hollow Road near the Agricultural Arena was built in 1965 on land provided by Penn State, and has been outdated for some time. PDA desires to build a larger facility at the University’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Center at Rock Springs.

The Livestock Evaluation Center tests and records genetic traits of boars, bulls and rams in a managed environment and provides superior sires to the livestock producers of the Commonwealth and beyond. Programs at the center are complimentary to the livestock teaching, extension and research programs of the College of Agricultural Sciences and involve faculty, staff and students in the college.

The parcel, which is part of the former Kepler Farm, consists of approximately 25 acres on the south side of Route 45 near the intersection of Route 45 and Tadpole Road. All costs of planning, construction, operating and maintaining the new facility will be the responsibility of the PDA.

Because the College of Agricultural Sciences wants to continue its strong cooperation with the Livestock Evaluation Center programs, the Board approved the lease of this site to PDA for $1 for a period of 50 years.

The Board also approved the sale of a .09-acre piece of property in Erie about three blocks from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College to an adjoining landowner. The separate parcel was originally acquired by the University in 1991 along with about 90 acres, but because it is not contiguous to campus, is small and has limited development potential because of zoning restrictions, the University does not want to keep it.

Contact: Christy Rambeau 814-865-7517 or cmr7@psu.edu by email