Plant Sciences Chair History & Supporters

Representatives with the Montana Grains Foundation present a check to MSU for $1 million as seed funding, which formally began the five-year challenge to bring a world-renowned plant scientist to MSU. Left to right: Lola Raska, Lochey Edwards, Dale Schuler, Glenn Duff, Gary Broyles and Ryan McCormick. 

History 

In 2013, Montana State University, the state’s oldest and largest land-grant institution, joined the grassroots call from the Montana Grains Foundation, to bring a scientist to the university who would help Montana grain growers remain competitive and sustainable through research tailored for Montana’s current and future challenges in agriculture. Together, Montana’s agricultural community and MSU challenged themselves to raise $5 million dollars in five years to bring an endowed plant science chair to MSU.

In the first year, Montana farmers rallied together to invest $1 million from their own pockets. In the following two years, an additional $1.8 million was raised from Montana producers and agribusiness, followed by longtime MSU alumnus and supporter Norm Asbjornson, gifting the endowment $2 million in 2017.

The chair has since grown with the help of MSU faculty and the Montana Grains Foundation, Montana Wheat and Barley Committee, Montana Grain Growers Association and a multitude of businesses and grain producers to permanently endow the Winifred Asbjornson Plant Sciences Chair, on behalf of Montana agriculture.     

Related Articles  

• MSU Alumni Foundation halfway to $5 million fundraising goal for first endowed chair - February 12, 2015
• Dale Schuler's leadership inspires MSU's first endowed plant sciences chair - July 23, 2014

Producers

The following producers, families, agribusiness and groups have given in support of the chair: