Southeast research farm gets $4 million donation

A university research farm received a boost this week through a land donation valued at nearly $4 million, the largest single gift in Southeast Missouri State University's history.

Money will go into an endowment, with half going toward scholarships for students studying agriculture and half going toward the upkeep and improvement of the research farm.

The donor, alumna June Barton of Catron, Mo., gifted 850 acres of farmland in New Madrid County. The university's foundation is expected to lease the property for about a year and then sell it for an estimated $3 to $4 million.

"In terms of impact, this is almost equivalent to the effect the River Campus has had on our School of Visual and Performing Arts. We're going to have the ability to give additional scholarships and take this demonstration farm to a state-of-the-art level," said Wayne Smith, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation.

The research farm will be renamed the David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center in honor of Barton's husband, who died in 1987. David Barton served on the board of supervisors of the Little River Drainage District for 35 years.

"I don't have much family. I am doing this in memory of my husband," said June Barton, who still works as manager of David M. Barton Farms.

The university's research farm is based on 252 acres in Gordonville. The farm previously was located along Interstate 55, but was recently moved to make room for a business research park. The research farm provides a space for students to get hands-on experience and try innovative methods.

The next largest single gift Southeast's foundation has received was the building and land now used as the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center in Malden, Mo.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

388-3627

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