LINCOLN, NEB. – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) plans to hold a groundbreaking on Nov. 4 to mark the beginning of construction of its Feedlot Innovation Center near Mead, Neb.

Along with the ceremony, the school also announced that it received a $700,000 gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation from premium beef company Greater Omaha Packing Co., to help construct the facility. In recognition of its philanthropic support, the university will name the new center’s animal handling and instructional classroom building for the company.

“We all have a stake in the long-term success of the beef industry,” said Henry Davis, chief executive officer of Greater Omaha Packing. “In partnership with the University of Nebraska and other contributors, Greater Omaha Packing is confident that our support of the Feedlot Innovation Center will lead to groundbreaking research, technology and insights that will help advance the industry, strengthen and expand the entire supply chain and ultimately drive value back to family farms.”

The center also will allow students to gain hands-on experiences while being exposed to the newest research and technology at a state-of-the-art, commercial-scale feedlot and animal handling facility. 

The building will include a complex with cattle comfort and research buildings, a feed technology facility, innovative open lots and an animal handling facility. 

The estimated cost for the project is about $7.5 million. The project was approved by the Board of Regents on June 23. Pending approval by the regents, the center will be named the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center in recognition of John and Beth Klosterman. The Klostermans have supported the University of Nebraska for more than 45 years and gave $500,000 for this project.

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) has committed $2 million in funding with the NU Foundation leading a $3 million private fundraising initiative. To date, nearly $2 million has been committed in private support. 

In April, JBS USA provided a $700,000 gift of its own to fund part of the project. 

“The Feedlot Innovation Center presents an incredible opportunity to bring together industry partners, cattle producers, and UNL researchers and students to advance sustainable beef production,” said Mike Boehm, Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR and University of Nebraska vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “IANR has a long-standing and productive partnership with Greater Omaha Packing, and we are thrilled with their support of this project and that of others and look forward to continued collaboration.”