Preview
Creation Date
1979
Description
L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center
Built - 1977-1979
Dedicated - October 29, 1988
Cost of Construction - $2,722,800
Gross Square Feet - 68,000
Architects - Ryan, Cook & Zuern, Louisville, KY
Namesake: Leonard D. Brown came to work in the WKU Agriculture Department in 1966. He served as department head for thirteen of his sixteen year tenure. He passed away in September 1982. Brown received his BS from WKU in 1954.
Thomas Meredith presented the following to the Board of Regents when recommending naming the Expo Center for him on September 16, 1988:
Dr. Brown graduated from Bremen High School and Western Kentucky University. He earned an MS degree from the University of Kentucky and a PhD degree in animal science from Michigan State University. he served as a faculty member at Michigan State University from 1961-66. The quality of his scholarship was quickly recognized at Michigan State. He had sixty-one articles dealing with dairy nutrition published in scientific journals.
He left the position at Michigan State to return to his alma mater to accept a teaching position. He belied that teaching undergraduates at WKU and working with farmers and leaders in agriculture in Kentucky could influence the future of Kentucky. Dr. Brown made a professional sacrifice by leaving one of the nation's outstanding research universities in dairy science to take a position in the department where he had completed his undergraduate degree.
As a faculty member at WKU, he was recognized as an excellent teacher. He had the ability to teach complicated scientific principles in an enjoyable and easy-to-understand manner. He took a personal interest in students and followed their progress carefully. He set a high standard for other faculty as an advisor. His assistance to students did not end at graduation. Former students frequently returned to campus to seek counsel and advice from Professor Brown.
Under his leadership as Head of the Department of Agriculture, the enrollment and the faculty increased. New programs were added in the department, and faculty were encouraged to be effective in the classroom and to become more active in public service.
In the early 1970s, Dr. Brown initiated discussions about a major exposition center at the university farm. He worked with individuals on campus, in the region and in Frankfort to help make the exposition center a reality. The Center was in operation prior to his death in September 1982.
History - Construction on the Agricultural Expo Center began in May 1977. The center was completed in late 1979 with the university taking possession Jan. 3, 1980. The building includes a show arena with seating capacity of 2000, a demonstration arena which accommodates 300, an animal holding area that has washing areas, locker room, two conference rooms and office space. The first event, the National Hampshire Meat Hog Conference, was held in the facility on Jan. 7, 1980. The building was officially dedicated and named for Leonard Brown on Oct. 29, 1988.
Park City Daily News
Ag Center Summer's Opening? March 16, 1979
Children Test Dairy Products, Aug. 13, 1982
Craig, Courtney. WKU Ag Expo Center Hosts Sold-Out Crowd, Feb. 15, 2004, P.1A
District Dairy Show, May 5, 1981
Farmers Get Tractors, Talk At Deere Day, Jan. 20, 1998
Harvey, Alyssa. Ride 'Em Cowpoke, Feb. 9, 1996
Hay Catches Fire At WKU Ag Center, Aug. 27, 1998
Higgins, Betty. WKU May Build Exposition Center At University Farm, Feb. 8, 1976
Koenig, Bill. Horsemen Compete For Profit, Oct. 4, 1981
Minor, Robyn. Ag Center Not As Cool As It Could Be, May 29, 1997
Minor, Robyn.WKU's Answer May Be a Sign of the Times, May 20, 1997, Pp. 1-2
On The Agenda: Bowling Green Horse Show Association Show, May 17, 1984
Reigler, Hunter. Cow Camp: Young People Learn the Finer Points of Clipping And Grooming Beef Cattle, June 24, 1984
Ross, Thomas. Parking To Improve At WKU Center, April 23, 1986
Sisco, Scott. Roping & Riding; Lone Star Rodeo Outlaw Tour Coming To WKU Ag Center, Feb. 7, 2008
Stringer, Donna-Lin. Down on the Farm, Aug. 20, 1989
Vaughn, Wayne. Milky Way; Even Automation Requires Helping Hands at Dairy Farm, March 11, 1990
Western Air Conditioning Project Gets Boost, Aug. 8, 1997
Keywords
Western Kentucky University