Rebuilding efforts are making steady progress at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, more than four years after a devastating tornado damaged or destroyed half of its facilities.
Interim Director Dr. Jeremy Teal recently presented a PowerPoint to the Princeton Rotary Club on the progress at the Research Center, highlighting its 1,652-acre campus.
click to download audioHe discussed the initial response following the December 2021 tornado, which destroyed 39 out of 59 buildings.
click to download audioHe noted the Research Center came close to losing nearly all of its structures in the tornado.
click to download audioTeal went on to share current updates, including the near completion of the Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, which will house their main meeting, office, and lab spaces.
click to download audioHe explained that the move-in date may change, as they want to ensure everything is fully ready, but they hope to be settled within the next couple of months if not by March 27th.
The Beef Cattle Facilities and Feed Barn is set to be finished this month, while other parts of the facility are still underway.
click to download audioTeal shared that the Chemical Handling and Storage facility will be divided into separate buildings and put out for bids soon, while the Greenhouse and Headhouse, begun in June 2025, are expected to be finished sometime in May, followed by a paving project that will be bid in the spring, and then signage will go in shortly after the paving is completed.
He pointed out that if there is any positive outcome from the difficult tornado recovery, it’s that the U.K. Research and Education Center is rebuilding stronger than before.
click to download audioTeal added that a positive result of the tornado recovery is that researchers will benefit from brand-new equipment, facilities, and offices.
