The J.W. Ruby Research Research, Education and Outreach Center is 22 miles east of Morgantown near Reedsville in Preston County. Much of the acreage is utilized for forage crop production to support the herds and flocks on this farm and the Animal Sciences Farm in Morgantown. This site is home to about 200 head of livestock, bulls, cows, heifers and calves. Horses owned by the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences also call the farm home, and equine courses are taught at the facility.
A $6.7 million gift to West Virginia University from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust will transform the equine educational facilities at the farm into a new, modern teaching, research and extension center. The center will increase student and community opportunities for learning, provide applied research opportunities for faculty and provide an example of how a sustainable farm is managed.
Facilities
- Animal handling building
- Two cattle shelters
- Bull and holding barn
- Animal handling shelter
Research activities
- Studies of the ovarian and uterine function of domestic animals
- Forage crop genetics and breeding to improve yield and quality
- Forage and livestock management systems
- Field crop variety testing
- Use of poultry waste as a soil amendment.
Some forestry research has been done, and plantings of conifers and hardwoods have been evaluated. Oak wilt disease has also been studied here.