VANCOUVER – WSU’s historic 78th St. Agricultural Research and Extension Center has new owners as of today, along with a new mission and a new plan for the future, all based on a decades-long partnership.
Clark County commissioners today announced they will assume ownership of the 79-acre property from WSU. They also outlined a new vision of what activities will take place there.
“Our goal is to preserve the site as part of the county’s agricultural heritage with a specific focus on sustainability and to make it available to the public,” said Mark McCauley, director of Clark County General Services. “Our principal partner will be WSU.”
Linda Kirk Fox, associate vice president and dean of WSU Extension, called the change in ownership and vision “a natural and healthy next step in the evolution of the 78th St. center.”
“Since its inception nearly 60 years ago, this center has been about partnering with Clark County to develop and distribute research-based information to the residents of Clark County and surrounding areas,” she said. “We are happy to continue as a partner in the new future of this property.”
WSU Extension will maintain offices on the site. The county will be conducting a community outreach process over the next several months to develop a final concept plan. Actual work to implement project elements will occur over time as money becomes available.
