Successful Legacies

Lorenz Bohrnsen donated his 1,014 acres of farmland to WSU in 1991. Located in Spokane and Whitman Counties, the farm’s revenue supports the Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding and Genetics and the Vogel Wheat Research Fund. Kulvinder Gill, the current Vogel professor, is leading research that aims to increase heat tolerance in wheat.

Cleora Neare left her 903-acre farm to the state of Washington in her will. WSU received the farm via House Bill 1016 for the support of the University’s Lind Dryland Research Station, which is dedicated to research on wheat breeding, winter wheat emergence, alternative crops, weed and disease control, soil fertility, erosion control, and residue management.

Lisa Painter wanted to protect the land she and Jeanne Clenendon had farmed since 1972 and to ensure that it was organically and sustainably managed—so she donated the 26-acre farm to WSU and the Jefferson County Land Trust. A central resource for WSU’s Jefferson County Extension, it includes a sizable organic garden, space for 4-H programs to raise livestock, and demonstration plots for sustainable agriculture and natural resource conservation. Lisa still lives in her home on the farm.

400 acres in Whitman County. Originally obtained from the Earmel Cunningham Trust, the Cook farm now serves as the University’s precision agriculture direct seed research farm.

215 acres in Spokane County. Revenue supports the Verle Kaiser Conservation Endowment in the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.

114 acres in Latah County. Revenue supports the Hattie Davis Espy Memorial Scholarships.

640 acres in Grant County. Revenue supports the Daniel Family Endowment for Precision Wheat Farming and Wheat Breeding.

118 acres in Douglas County. Revenue supports the Schroeder Family Scholarships in Electrical Engineering and Agriculture.

342 acres in Lincoln County. Revenue supports agricultural research at the Wilke Farm.