The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Tarleton State University has served as a leader in agriculture for over 100 years. In 1917, Tarleton joined the Texas A&M University System as John Tarleton Agricultural College. However, support from the surrounding community made it feasible for Tarleton to acquire 500 acres of land for the college farm. The college farm, now referred to as th
e Tarleton Agriculture Center, has since grown to contain facilities for equine, beef cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, and poultry. Also located at the Tarleton Agriculture Center is the Tarleton State University Meat Laboratory, Aquaponics Center, Teaching Pavilion, Agricultural Field Machinery & Fabrication Laboratory, Animal & Plant Sciences Center, Livestock Arena, Greenhouses, and The Purple Tractor (merchandising teaching laboratory). Additionally, the Southwest Regional Dairy Center is located in close proximity to the Tarleton Agriculture Center. The Southwest Regional Dairy Center houses a 24-cow rotary milking parlor and is the only dairy in the Texas A&M University System. COANR consists of three academic departments:
-Agricultural Education and Communication
-Animal Science
-Wildlife and Natural Resources
Points of Pride:
-Agricultural Teacher Placement of 99%
-Largest Invitational CDE contest in the nation
-Hosts the National FFA Officer Candidate Preparatory Academy: in the last 5 years, 90% of the nationally elected officers attended the Academy
-Home to the Southwest Regional Dairy Center, which is the only dairy in the Texas A&M University System
-Only Aquaponics Center in the Texas A&M University System - Newly built (opened in 2019) Animal & Plant Sciences Center that houses six state-of-the-art indoor laboratories, The Purple Tractor merchandising teaching laboratory, four greenhouses, a 42,000-square-foot covered open-sided livestock arena, working pens, and animal facilities.
-$3.8 million Agricultural Field Machinery and Fabrication Laboratory opened in 2017
