When the Andrews University Dairy opened in 1907, it housed 40–50 cows. Now the Andrews Dairy houses approximately 1,250 cattle at two separate farms, and Andrews is, in fact, the only North American college or university with a farm.

A lot has changed in the past 100 years. But change is good.

In spring 2007, the Dairy received $1 million from William Colson's $8.5 million donation to Andrews. This gift will provide a new milking parlor to reduce milking time and allow for improved herd management and valuable research opportunities. Plans for a visitors' center have also been finalized. Construction on both facilities began this fall.

"We are honored that Mr. Colson saw fit to entrust such a large gift to our dairy and then to request that our new parlor and visitors' center bear his name. We will do all we can to make this a model dairy and continue to justify his trust in us," says Tom Chittick, agriculture department chair and dairy co-manager.

The agriculture department offers five academic degrees, including dairy herd management and animal science. Undergraduate animal science students participating in the John Nevins Andrews Honors program presented research projects at international meetings of the American Dairy Science Association. Results of research projects were published in Hoard's Dairyman, the leading lay journal of the dairy industry.

"We have received positive feedback from the research results we have presented at international scientific meetings and in industry journals. We are glad that we can demonstrate the excellence of the academics offered at Andrews University to those outside our region and our faith community," says Katherine Koudele, animal science/pre-vet advisor and co-manager of the dairy.

Gillian Sanner, student news writer, University Relations