Capitol News

Michigan State University (MSU) has announced a new partnership with the Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies, resulting in the renaming of the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education to the Michigan Farm Bureau Pavilion at MSU. This announcement was made during the Michigan Farm Bureau’s annual meeting held on December 3-4 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids.

MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz expressed his appreciation for this collaboration, stating, “We consider this facility to be MSU’s Breslin Center for agriculture.” He emphasized that it is fitting for the name over its doors to represent their partners at Farm Bureau.

The gift from Michigan Farm Bureau will support planned renovations and expansions at the pavilion, which serves not only MSU but also agricultural groups from across the Great Lakes region. Carl Bednarski, president of Michigan Farm Bureau, highlighted their strategic investment in Michigan's agricultural future by partnering with MSU. He noted that as a premier land-grant university, MSU focuses on research and technology delivery that benefits Michigan's rural economy.

The Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies includes Michigan’s largest general farm organization and provides various insurance services through Farm Bureau Insurance. Matt Daum, interim dean of CANR, remarked on their long-standing collaboration with CANR and expressed excitement about future naming opportunities within the pavilion complex.

Kelly Millenbah, former dean of CANR, conveyed gratitude for this gift from Farm Bureau and hoped it would inspire further support for their programming and facilities. The pavilion hosts nearly 100 events annually and attracts around 100,000 visitors each year.

The facility plays a significant role in educating the public about Michigan agriculture through events like the Spartan Stampede Rodeo and other exhibitions. The funding will enable modernizations to accommodate more concurrent events and expand exhibition space.

George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch, spoke about how partnerships like these will facilitate critical improvements to CANR infrastructure while providing visibility benefits to partners such as Farm Bureau.