This grant provides funding to the University of Mount Olive (UMO) to construct a building for classroom, lab, and meeting space at UMO’s 63-acre Kornegay Student Farm in Duplin County. The new building will enable UMO to host a variety of courses, conduct meetings, maintain a wet laboratory, and provide offices for farm personnel. The farm will be an essential educational resource for UMO that will complement in-class learning by serving as a living laboratory. In addition to traditional agricultural classes, students will have the opportunity to participate in various other agriculture programs and trainings. UMO will also use the farm and building for agriculture academies it provides to high school students and for supervised agricultural experiences for FFA members. UMO expects to create seven new full time positions related to the farm. Other outcomes for the project include increased student enrollment in and completion of agriculture and related programs, placement of graduates in agriculture-related jobs in rural North Carolina, and additional industry standard certifications for students. Golden LEAF funds will be used for site-preparation and construction costs related to the new building.
