Metropolitan Community College recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the MCC-Maple Woods Agriculture Annex on the campus at 2601 N.E. Barry Road, Kansas City.
The new $6.8 million facility, which began welcoming students in January, is home to MCC’s newly expanded agriculture program.
MCC-Maple Woods began offering agriculture courses in Fall 2021 and has continued to add courses each semester since then. Students will now be able to pursue an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) in agriculture degree with emphasis options in agribusiness, plant science and animal science. Maple Woods is also home to a popular and highly regarded veterinary technology program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.
One in 10 Missouri jobs is in agriculture, and agribusiness contributes $93 billion each year to the state’s economy, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Kansas City is a vital part of the “Animal Health Corridor,” which has emerged over the past 15 years in the area spanning Lawrence to Columbia, and accounts for nearly 60% of the world’s animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales.
MCC-Maple Woods President Ellen Crowe said construction of the 9,366-square-foot-agriculture building represents growth and development happening in the region.
The new facility features a 2,100-square-foot greenhouse, a large lecture hall and a laboratory classroom, plus plenty of space for hands-on learning and incorporation of modern technology within the agriculture program. The building also includes a multipurpose space that can be used for other classes and events.
“The Maple Woods campus has always stood out in the Northland in providing an excellent academic experience due to our outstanding staff and faculty,” Crowe said. “The new Ag Annex allows us to widen our positive impact on our community.”
Crowe said partnerships with area school districts have been instrumental in the continued development and expansion of the ag program. MCC has partnered with the Platte County School District’s Northland Career Center (serving Smithville, Liberty, North Kansas City and other K-12 school districts) to offer an early college academy through which students can earn an associate degree along with their high school diploma. Dual credit opportunities are also available.
The Ag Annex project was funded through a combination of federal, state and private sources, including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which bolstered infrastructure, agricultural research, and animal and plant health programs. State support was provided by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development through MoExcels, which supports employer-driven education and training opportunities. Private contributions were made possible by a gift from the Edward F. Swinney Trust with Bank of America n.a. serving as trustee, as well as gifts from the Kemper Family Foundations and the Kearney Wornall Charitable Trust & Foundation, both with UMB Bank n.a. serving as trustee. Additionally, bond funds were utilized to complete the project.
Clark & Enersen designed the Agriculture Annex for MCC, and the general contractor was Universal Construction.
