“Humbled,” was a word Missouri State University’s William H. Darr School of Agriculture head, Dr. Anson Elliott, used often when he spoke of the decision by Leo Journagan and his family to gift their Douglas County cattle ranch to Missouri State this year. “This generous gift will include 1,000 head of cattle when the gift is completed, including 243 registered Herefords that were gifted in December 2009, and 3,300 acres – a gift of more than $7 million,” Elliott said.
This gift from the Journagan family, which will be transferred over several years, is the second-largest single private gift in the 104-year history of Missouri State University.
The Journagan’s gift announcement was made Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, in Karls Hall on the Missouri State University Campus. Missouri State President, Dr. Mike Nietzel, announced the decision by Mr. Leo Journagan and the Journagan Family, and detailed their commitment to donate the family ranch to Missouri State University.
“This gift will transform the William H. Darr School of Agriculture,” Nietzel said. “This is a working ranch complete with buildings, equipment, cattle – both commercial and nationally recognized purebred Herefords.”
Owner of Leo Journagan Construction Company, Inc., Leo Journagan has been acquiring land parcels since the 1960s. Elliott said while the complete transfer of the ranch will occur over several years, Missouri State’s students will begin utilizing the ranch in the fall of 2010.
“When Allen (Journagan – Leo’s son) asked me ‘what would you do with a ranch?’ I could see the tremendous, far-reaching impact this could have on Missouri State, and all of Missouri, in the agriculture industry and beyond,” Elliott enthused.
The Journagan ranch is recognized as being among the top 15 Hereford herds in the United States, and now is one of the largest Hereford herds associated with a University in the United States.
“An asset that comes with this ranch is the expertise of Marty Lueck, Journagan ranch manager, who is nationally known in the Hereford Association and beyond,” said Elliott. Lueck has been involved in cattle ranching for 30 years. “He’ll make a special impact on our students. With his help, our students will be gaining hands-on experience watching not just one calf being born, but an entire herd calving. And beyond agriculture, even, students of conservation, forestry, biology will be able to utilize this ranch.”
Elliott said he sees many future benefits that University students will enjoy. From research and hands-on experience utilizing the Hereford herd, to the forage and forestry systems, wildlife populations and water quality focuses, students gain the chance to learn from a vast and diverse curriculum, all potentially housed on the Journagan ranch.
“Because of this facility, I believe students are going to begin to look at Missouri State as the place to come for an animal science degree,” said Elliott.
“The realization of the many years of dreams and efforts and sacrifice to put together this 7-mile long ranch is weighing to me. To think (the Journagans) are entrusting it to us, for our use, it is so weighing. The gift will be transforming in our research and our outreach; for our present students, and for those anxious to take part in this in the future,” said Elliott.
Charlie Kruse, President of Missouri Farm Bureau, also spoke at the announcement. “It takes a lot of things to make a university a great university. If you think about it, it takes strong leadership, it takes outstanding faculty, a great staff and it takes great students. Thankfully, MSU has all these. But it takes one more ingredient, and that’s support. Today we see generosity through the vision of Leo Journagan, taking this step forward. A legacy can be perpetuated in many ways. I think the legacy of Leo Journagan and the Journagan family is going to be seen for many, many years to come. None of us have any idea what bright young students will learn, and ultimately turn into good for agriculture for our country (because of the gift). I don’t know how you can have a better legacy than that. To the Journagan family I know we all say thank you, very much.”
