7/17/01

DONORS MEET CHALLENGE AS AU BREAKS GROUND ON AG HERITAGE PARK

AUBURN -- With a $1 million boost from two donors, Auburn University's College of Agriculture broke ground for its Ag Heritage Park Tuesday under a tent on a hill adjacent to the Old Red Barn, the structure that started it all.

"This project started out to fix the Old Red Barn," said Ronnie B. Holladay of Tyler, former president of the AU Agriculture Alumni Association. "Well, it's really grown since then."

The tent under which the ceremony took place will be the site of the planned pavilion, dedicated to the farmers of Alabama and built with funds from a challenge grant of $500,000 from ALFA/Alabama Farmers Federation.

"This place has been just an idea for a long, long time now," said ALFA president Jerry Newby. "But when folks that have an idea work together, they can make things happen."

ALFA's challenge grant was quickly met when Robert Lowder, a member of the AU Board of Trustees and chairman of the board and CEO of Colonial BancGroup Inc., his wife Charlotte and his mother, Mrs. Ed Lowder, announced earlier Tuesday their $500,000 gift to the project in honor of the late Ed Lowder.

"This park will be a wonderful thing, not only for agriculture but for all Auburn students, faculty, alumni and friends," said Lowder.

The Lowder donation will go specifically toward the renovation of the Old Red Barn, and like the ALFA gift, will be spread out over five years.

Other donations announced Tuesday were $25,000 for construction of wetlands on the site from AU Athletics Director David Housel and his wife, Susan, and $15,000 from the AU Ag Alumni Association.

"You make a living by what you get," said Mike Kilgore, president of the AU Ag Alumni Association. "But you make a life by what you give."

From the effort to preserve the barn grew a nearly $3 million project that will also include renovation of a old dairy barn nearby, where dairy treats such as ice cream and shakes will be available to visitors; an amphitheater; fish ponds and demonstration areas highlighting Alabama's plant and animal life and food crops; and a pavilion.

Long-term plans for the park also call for walking trails, landscaped with native flora, that will include interesting, historic campus sites related to Alabama agriculture.

"This place combines history and education and fellowship and welcomes AU students, faculty, alumni, friends, and anyone with an interest in agriculture and science -- from grade school classes to tourists wandering through Auburn," said AU President William F. Walker. "The great story of agriculture in Alabama should be shared and can be shared. We can use this park to showcase the expertise that exists in the College of Agriculture. We can preserve part of our agricultural heritage, but more importantly, we can accentuate where agriculture is headed."

"This park is dedicated to the legacy of agriculture in Alabama," added AU Trustee John Blackwell of Huntsville. "Ag Heritage Park will be built for Auburn people everywhere for everyone who has benefitted from the many contributions that Auburn and agriculture have made to our society and lives."

# # #

jul01:AU-agdedication

CONTACT: Waters, 334-844-2345; Guthrie, 334-844-3211; Gary, 334-844- 1136.