The Facilities  

 In addition to meeting research needs, the station hosted numerous field days, short courses, and educational events throughout its 100-year history, drawing thousands to Princeton each year.

In 1930, the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated $10,000 for the construction of buildings on the farm, including a building with office space, a laboratory, a cold storage facility, and a meeting room that could accommodate 400 people on folding chairs. The "Service Building" was completed in April 1931 and stood as the icon of the substation until 1980, when a new 35,000-square-foot research and education center was dedicated.

Following World War II, the station had difficulty accommodating the crowds - comprised primarily of returning veterans - at their facilities. Staff organized overflow events at the Caldwell County Courthouse and extended the meetings into multi-day affairs. The station's popularity prompted the addition of more commodity-focused field days in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

It became apparent in the 1970s that the office and meeting facility built in 1931 was inadequate for the expanded number of faculty and staff moving to the station. In addition, the expansion of Cooperative Extension Service programs associated with the new faculty positions created a need for meeting spaces and service laboratories, including those for soils and plants.

With the support of the farm leadership in western Kentucky, a 35,000-square-foot research and education center was completed in 1980. The building was renamed the Rottgering-Kuegel Building in 1989 to honor Howard Rottgering and Bill Kuegel, the West Kentucky farm leaders who were instrumental in securing funding for the facility.

The landscaping around the new building was developed by Win Dunwell (hired as an extension horticulturist in 1979), who envisioned it as more than just landscaping. Conforming to the station's general purpose, Dunwell developed the landscaping as a botanical garden and a nursery crop development center. The collection of plants surrounding the building allowed researchers, nursery crop growers, landscape contractors, maintenance operators, garden center operators and consumers to observe how various plants perform under western Kentucky conditions.

As the UKREC continued to make significant strides in growing the success of Kentucky's farmers, staff and agriculture community leaders began to envision what would come next. The development of a world-class center focused on grain and forage research, located in the heart of Kentucky’s crop production, began in 2015. 

The Grain and Forage Center of Excellence officially opened in 2019 with support from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Soybean Board, Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association, and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. The center’s facilities included new meeting rooms, laboratory space and offices, and high-speed internet capabilities were enhanced to allow professors at the center to teach classes for students in Lexington remotely. 

Sadly, on the evening of Dec. 10, 2021, an EF-4 tornado struck the UKREC, leaving behind only remnants of a facility that had been an essential contributor to Kentucky's agricultural research. Decades of infrastructure and millions of dollars in equipment were destroyed overnight, reducing one of the state’s key agricultural assets to rubble.  

Under the leadership of director Carrie Knott, the faculty and staff, many of whom had suffered personal losses from the tornado as well, engaged in a massive cleanup effort to pick up the pieces. Regional farmers who had been served by UKREC immediately pitched in. 

The Princeton staff quickly established temporary facilities, working to maintain as much of the center’s field research activities as possible while also launching the rebuilding process for the facility’s infrastructure. Although some of the center’s annual events were postponed or canceled in 2022, the center provided resources and support to local farmers and residents affected by the tornado, including hosting a tornado recovery workshop. 

While losing the infrastructure of this research hub was a significant loss to the state’s agricultural industry, the UKREC is transforming into a more advanced research institution that better meets the demands of today’s agricultural climate.  

The newly established field research building is one of the most significant upgrades. Unlike the old setup, where researchers had to use multiple aging buildings spread across the property, the new facility brings most field preparation and post-harvest processing into one centralized location. 

The addition of equipment sheds is another critical improvement. Prior to the tornado, storage options were limited, often resulting in high-value equipment being exposed to the elements. The new sheds offer protection from weather, extending the lifespan of essential research tools.  

Another significant addition on the horizon is a state-of-the-art greenhouse, which will allow researchers to conduct nearly year-round studies on plant disease, pest resistance and crop adaptation. This facility will address previous limitations, particularly for research that requires specific climate and growth conditions.  

The new greenhouse will not only enable research continuity but will also support emerging fields in agricultural science, such as sustainable pest control and precision agriculture. By studying crops in a controlled environment, researchers can gather data that help Kentucky farmers stay ahead of potential challenges, ensuring the longevity and health of their crops.  

A student dormitory is being constructed where the service building once stood.