Main Articles Listing: General College News 6. Groseta Family Donates Land to UA in Yavapai County Yavapai county residents interested in learning more about agriculture, natural resources, family and youth programs will be able to do so in a one-stop location being planned in Camp Verde. A new facility, which will house the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Agricultural Experiment Station, the V-V ranch office and the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension office, is in the planning stages thanks to a land donation by Cottonwood residents P. Andrew (Andy) and Mary Beth Groseta. The five acres is located between Camp Verde and Cottonwood on Highway 260 off Interstate 17. The newly proposed building will be named the Groseta Education Center in honor of the family. The university has retained M3 Engineering and Technology Corporation of Tucson to design the proposed 5000 square foot facility. Construction is expected to start in June 2007. Andy Groseta is a third generation rancher and CALS alumnus, along with two of his children. A third child is a UA senior this year. Groseta has been a prominent agriculturalist, a conservationist and a supporter of education for years, serving on many agricultural and community boards. He is a co-owner of Headquarters West, Ltd., a full-service Arizona agribusiness firm, and is chairman of the policy division of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Both Mary Beth and Andy Groseta were recognized as the 2004 Arizona Agriculturists of the Year by the Arizona Association FFA. “The Groseta Education Center allows the College to extend the excellent work of the V Bar V Ranch and Yavapai County Cooperative Extension into parts of northern Arizona and especially Yavapai County where we have not had an appropriate facility,” says Eugene G. Sander, UA vice president for outreach and CALS dean. “The foresight and generosity of the Groseta family has made that possible.” The donation provides a critical first step in solving a long term problem of insufficient office and meeting space for local CALS research and cooperative extension activities. “The new facility will provide a modern and readily accessible center for our educational activities in that part of the state,” says Colin Kaltenbach, vice dean and director of the Arizona experiment station. Offices for the V-V Ranch and one of two Yavapai county cooperative extension locations are currently located on Village Drive in Cottonwood. "The proximity of the site to I-17 will make it easily accessible not only to the local community but also to people from across the state,” says V-V Ranch resident director Dave Schafer. “They reflect what is best in our alumni,” says Jim Christenson, Arizona Cooperative Extension director. “Andy has been and continues to be head of the Yavapai County extension Advisory Board and is active in local politics to support extension and the V-V ranch.” He is the recipient of the 1998 CALS Distinguished Citizen Award, which is made ‘to a person in recognition of distinguished service in non-profit organizations, in appointive or elective governmental assignment at the municipal, county, state or federal level, or other outstanding service as a citizen.’ In addition, the Grosetas have supported the CALS Animal Science livestock judging team and other natural resource efforts. “This facility will serve to support both adult and youth education in formal and non-formal venues for generations to come,” says David Cox, CALS associate dean and director. “There are many clientele who, in the future, will benefit from the educational programs. The Groseta family has a long tradition of involvement and support for education and this facility is both the symbol and substance of their commitment." The Groseta Education Center continues the family legacy and their commitment to education in Yavapai County and the state of Arizona. It will directly benefit the citizens of Yavapai County by providing increased opportunities for educational programs in 4-H youth development, animal science, horticulture, family consumer sciences, and natural resource management. “The Center will also increase access to the University of Arizona across northern Arizona,” says Jeff Schalau, Yavapai County extension director. “I truly see the Groseta Education Center being a UA campus north." The family will be publicly recognized for their support at the V bar V ranch explorer’s day on Saturday, August 26th at Mahan Park in Coconino County. - Updated: August 21, 2006 [e-Mail me the articles]    -     [Search our articles]    -     [contact us ]     return to media home