Hundreds of people, including Montana State University faculty, staff, students and alumni, along with community members, legislators and industry professionals, gathered Friday to celebrate the completion of the Combined State Labs building.
The tri-lab agricultural facility, located on the west side of South 19th Avenue, brings together MSU’s Montana Agricultural Experiment Station Wool Lab, the Montana Department of Livestock’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Analytical Lab.
Established at MSU in 1947, the Wool Lab provides wool testing and research services for sheep producers throughout Montana and the region. The laboratory evaluates wool quality and sheep genetics to help producers improve flock performance, maximize wool value and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Previously — and famously — headquartered on campus in the little white house near the 11th Avenue roundabout, the Wool Lab is collaboratively managed by MSU’s Department of Animal and Range Sciences and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. The lab also serves as a key facility for training animal science students and conducting outreach with sheep producers.
The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab supports veterinarians, livestock producers, wildlife managers and government agencies in identifying and monitoring animal diseases. Accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the laboratory also supports public health through testing for zoonotic diseases and by helping ensure the safety of animal products such as milk and eggs.
The Analytical Lab provides testing and analytical services that support Montana agriculture and environmental stewardship. The laboratory analyzes feed, fertilizer, pesticides, groundwater and other samples used by producers, researchers and regulatory programs across the state.
The event’s emcee, Montana Department of Livestock Executive Officer Mike Honeycutt, said the joint facility represents decades of work and “a great partnership” between these three Montana agencies.
Partnership was a theme throughout the ceremony — not only among the three organizations that share the facility, but also with the producers, industry partners and communities that benefit from the laboratories’ research, education, outreach, testing and diagnostic services.
MSU President Brock Tessman said the university’s commitment to agriculture includes conducting research that benefits Montana producers and communities while serving every part of the state.
“MSU is proud to be part of the agriculture community,” Tessman said. “You can dream bigger, achieve bigger and make a greater impact through partnership.”
Sreekala Bajwa, MSU’s vice president for agriculture, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, said the facility creates new opportunities for education, research and collaboration while expanding the university’s ability to support innovation and strengthen Montana’s agricultural sector.
“This is not just a building, but a testament to what we can achieve,” said Bajwa.
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy emphasized the importance of investing in agriculture.
“In Montana, agriculture is the fabric of our world,” Gianforte said. “It’s time that our facilities supporting our producers reach that same world-class level.”
Sheehy also praised Montana agriculture and the new facility’s role in supporting producers.
“It is incredibly powerful to feed ourselves and the nation,” said Sheehy, speaking to the work of multi-generation producer families. “I am proud of this state’s role in the land-grant mission.”
Following the opening remarks and ribbon-cutting, attendees toured the new facility and learned about the expanded capabilities now supporting producers and researchers across Montana.
Brent Roeder, manager of the Wool Lab, said opening the facility is important for new research and teaching opportunities within the wool industry. As one of only two university-associated wool laboratories in the nation, the MSU Wool Lab plays an important role in supporting sheep producers while advancing research on wool quality and natural fibers.
Construction of the Combined State Labs building began in 2024. The project was made possible through appropriations approved by the Montana Legislature during its 2021 and 2023 sessions, as well as the Montana Board of Regents’ approval of using university land for the shared facility.
The building replaces aging laboratory spaces, some of which were more than 70 years old. The MSU Wool Lab portion of the project also benefited from private donations secured through the MSU Alumni Foundation.