SAN ANGELO, TX - Angelo State University has received a $250,000 gift from the local Ernest and Dorthy Barrow Foundation to help establish an endowment to benefit ASU's Management, Instruction and Research (MIR) Center located just north of San Angelo off of U.S. Highway 87.
The Barrow Foundation donation is the lead gift toward ASU's recently launched initiative to establish a $2 million MIR Center Excellence Endowment to secure the long-term future of the MIR Center. Once fully-funded, the endowment will:
- Create a permanent funding source to support the MIR Center in perpetuity.
- Help provide additional student experiential learning opportunities.
- Strengthen ASU's ability to prepare future agricultural leaders.
- Expand student and faculty research efforts addressing challenges facing Texas producers.
- Encourage exploration of emerging opportunities that advance agricultural innovation and education.
Angelo State MIR Center buildings complex
Angelo State MIR Center
"This transformational gift demonstrates the Barrow Foundation's long-standing commitment to agriculture, education and rural communities," said Jenny Love, ASU executive director of development and alumni relations. "It also serves as an important catalyst for future fundraising efforts and helps build momentum toward realizing our $2 million goal for the MIR Center Excellence Endowment. We can't thank the Barrow Foundation enough for helping us ensure that the MIR Center remains a premier resource for our students, as well as for producers and communities throughout Texas."
Commonly called the ASU Ranch, the MIR Center sits on 6,000 acres of ranchland where ASU students, faculty and staff raise cattle, sheep and goats; grow and produce livestock feed; harvest, produce and sell food-animal products; and conduct range and wildlife management activities and research. It also serves as a demonstration and training site for the agriculture industry and annually hosts about 6,000 FFA, 4-H and other students for events and contests.
In addition to a classroom and lab complex, the MIR Center is home to several facilities dedicated to providing hands-on learning opportunities for students in the ASU Department of Agriculture's various degree programs.
These facilities include:
- Food Safety and Product Development Lab
- Mayer-Rousselot Agricultural Education Training Center
- G. Leon Holland Arena
- Shelley New Show Cattle Barns
- ASU Meat Market
- Feed Mill
"The Barrow Foundation's investment in experiential education helps ensure that Angelo State agriculture students have access to innovative resources, meaningful research experiences, and practical training that strengthens their knowledge and skills," said Dr. Cody Scott, chair of the ASU Department of Agriculture. "Their generosity not only supports the growth of the MIR Center, but also makes a lasting impact on the students whose lives and careers will be shaped by these opportunities."
As Angelo State approaches its centennial celebration in 2028, the MIR Center Excellence Endowment will provide permanent support for one of the university's most distinctive and impactful educational assets.
Fully establishing the MIR Center Excellence Endowment is also another example of why securing funding to support new and enhanced student learning facilities is one of the top priorities of ASU's ongoing "Leading the Charge" capital campaign.
More details on the campaign and ways to contribute are available online at angelo.edu/leading-the-charge or by calling the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 325-942-2116.
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