PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota State University is getting its first commitments from donors to help build a proposed $7 million facility that will be used for teaching and research about hogs.
The SDSU Foundation says First Bank and Trust, which operates in eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota, has committed $250,000 to the project. The South Dakota Pork Producers Council also has pledged support.
Officials hope the first funding commitments will encourage other organizations to pledge money to build the Swine Teaching and Research Facility.
Barry Dunn, dean of SDSU's College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, says the facility will provide cutting edge research and education in the swine industry.