The Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena
  
   
 
 


The multipurpose livestock teaching arena is part of the livestock complex west of main campus on Plantation Road across from the Beef Cattle Center

The focal point of the facility is an indoor arena 125' by 250' in size with lots of seating. Other accommodations include a classroom, lobby. lounge, office, kitchen and restrooms. There are also animal holding facilities that are adequate in size to service the arena.

 
 
 
 
A dedication and ground breaking ceremony for the new teaching arena was held on May 1, 2003. A larger and more formal dedication was held in the spring 2004 after the completion. Show below is the ground breaking done by horse and plow!
Mark McCann, APSC department head at that time, is on the right side of the plow and
Arden Huff, retired faculty member on the left side. Daniel Price, owner of the horses, is in the middle. In the background is the old Campbell arena which was originally built as an equipment shed.

 
 
 
 
Below: On the left Gary Minish and Tom Meacham.
On the right Bruce Hiatt (Pres. VA Farm Bureau) and Bill Wampler.

  
 
 
 
Below, Left to Right,
Dan Eversole, Ike Eller, Gary Minish, Mark McCann, and Andy Swiger,
were speakers at the dedication May 1, 2003.
Dan Eversole (Development Committee Chair Person) Spoke about the Development efforts over the last 20 years.
Ike Eller (Development Officer) Talked about fund raising and donors.
Gary Minish (Former faculty member 34 yrs from 66-94 and previous dept head 6 yrs) Spoke of the history of the arena project and the department's plans.
Mark McCann (Department Head at that time) Was master of ceremonies.
Andy Swiger (Former Dept head 80-86, Assoc Dean from 86-92, Dean of CALS from 92-03) Spoke about the political process and state approval.

 
 
 
 
Funding:
The state of Virginia provided matching funds to the Gifts and Pledges. Total Gifts and Pledges were $1,573,826
Alumni Gifts: 278, totaling 717,978
Friends Gifts: 50, totaling $520,128
Non-person Gifts: 94, totaling $280,338

13 were Major Gifts (25k or greater): which accounted for 89.9% of the total.
$25,625 was contributed by the Virginia Farm Bureau and 28 county organizations.
The two largest gifts were:
$520K from Col. H.E. Alphin, 1034 VT BS Dairy Husbandry from Clifton, VA (Fairfax County), and
$349K from the estate of Patricia B. Stuart. She and her husband Herb were Arabian horse breeders from Afton, VA. Thus, the name of the facility, Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena.
The Stuarts were originally from Pennsylvania.

Plans for new multipurpose livestock teaching arena:
The new multipurpose livestock teaching arena is situated across Plantation Road from Campbell arena and is nearly four times the size.
The darker/bolder contour lines on the plan depict the new land elevations.

 
 
 
 

Excavation began in May but rain was so frequent that things got off to a slow start.

  
 
 
 
 
     
 

Photo Gallery