GREENSBORO, N.C. — This weekend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State will gather for the Greatest Homecoming on Earth, but the celebrations don't stop there. Next week on November 9th, the school will also break ground on a new building to help students and the community.
At the University Farm, Interim Dean Shirley Hymon-Parker says they are already teaching students cutting-edge agricultural techniques. For example, NC A&T is one of the only schools in the nation to train on how to use a robot to milk cows. And now:
"Our students in animal science as well as food and nutritional science will have a chance to expand what they do,” Hymon-Parker said.
On November 9 the school will break ground on a new Urban and Community Food Complex which will include a creamery to make ice cream from milk collected at their dairy. It will also include a business incubator where community members can get help from professors starting their own food-related businesses like selling fancy jams or spicy barbecue sauce.
"We'll work with them on developing that business plan on through the full spectrum of marketing,” Hymon-Parker said.
There will even be a commercial kitchen where community members can work.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that we are present for our community and that we are making a difference,” Hymon-Parker said.
Money for the farm expansion is coming from the Federal government, and the school hopes to have the new program up and running by 2025.
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