Bayer CropScience Becomes Title Sponsor for American Museum of Agriculture
August 20, 2013 Bayer CropScience and the American Museum of Agriculture in Lubbock, TX have announced a sponsorship agreement to rename the facility the Bayer Museum of Agriculture, helping to further preserve, promote and display its cotton industry collection dating back to the 1600’s.
The expanded Museum will feature a new Bayer CropScience exhibit located in a new Central Exhibit Hall rotunda area. Plans also call for an interactive Major Crops display focused on corn, cotton, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers and wheat; an interactive farming game for visitors from the fourth grade to adults; a new gift shop and reception desk; plus administrative areas for special events, research, training and functions.
Opening for the museum expansion – which will feature 35,000 square feet of exhibit space and 3,500 agricultural artifacts – is scheduled for late spring/early summer of 2014.
“The Bayer Museum of Agriculture unites our strong global tradition in agriculture and local identity with both the agricultural community and with this first-class facility,” said Monty Christian, vice president, Cotton for Bayer CropScience. “We are the leader in high-quality cotton varieties globally with our FiberMax and Stoneville cotton seed, as well as our unique e3 sustainability program. It makes perfect sense for us to have a strong visible presence at a key attraction in Lubbock, brimming with rich agricultural history, which we are excited to be part of.”
The 25-acre site is situated on the rim of the Yellow House Canyon, providing a natural setting for the clusters of farm equipment on display. The wrought iron arch over the entrance to the site on Canyon Lake Drive in Mackenzie Park – which currently reads American Museum of Agriculture – will be changed to Bayer Museum of Agriculture in the coming months.
“We are very proud and excited to have Bayer sponsor our museum,” said Lacee Hoelting, executive director, Bayer Museum of Agriculture. “The relationship will help ensure a bright future for the Museum and allow us to expand and modernize our site, which will attract more visitors who are already visiting Lubbock for other reasons.”
The Bayer Museum of Agriculture currently features interactive cotton exhibits, horse-drawn plows, household items such as washing tubs and countertop appliances dating back to the pioneering days of agriculture, a unique exhibit of 71 pedal tractors, 700 collectible toy tractors, a 1920’s replica Blacksmith shop, a tractor repair shop, an antique tool room, an exhibit on the history of cotton ginning, and much more.
For more information about the museum, annual memberships or volunteer opportunities, visit www.agriculturehistory.org.
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