Mauston is a possible candidate in getting an agricultural education facility that would house 300 employees. The Southern Wisconsin Agricultural Group (SWAG) presented a development proposal on the Agricultural Education and Innovation Center Thursday morning at Mauston City Hall.
SWAG is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. According to their website, SWAG was founded in 2010 by a group of ag and non-ag business leaders who recognized a series of challenges facing the agriculture industry and wanted to take a pro-active approach to addressing these challenges. At first, the organization had planned on building the center in Evansville. SWAG Board Member John Morning said the organization even bought land, but the location wasn’t ideal. It was then SWAG decided to search for a new site for the center.
SWAG Executive Director Nicole Barlass said SWAG’s vision is to ensure a continuum of ag engagement focused on protecting the cultural and economic benefit of all aspects of agriculture. The facility will have four sections: the Agricultural Education Campus, the Expo and Training Center, Modern Agriculture Event Facilities, and an Ag Discovery Center.
Morning said at first, the initial cost of the project was $30 million, but the latest cost projection for the facility was $18 million. He and Barless explained that they are working with professionals to see how much money they could feasibly raise by fundraisers and donations from agricultural and local businesses, as well as individuals. Barless said the organization is looking for a community that is willing to partner with them and be invested in agriculture. Morning said the organization hopes to select the location for the center this spring. For more information, visit whyagmatters.com.