Hays County commissioners approved on Feb. 18 a resolution in support of a new agricultural education center to be located on Freeman Ranch in San Marcos. The new facility would be built out of a collaboration between the county, Texas State University and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, a program dedicated to agriculture education.

The process of selecting a new site for the center has been slowed due to a disagreement between the county and university over whether using Freeman Ranch would violate terms of the will of Harry Freeman, namesake of the ranch.

Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley brought the item before the court and said the AgriLife program provides opportunities to fill gaps in the national economy.

"We need this contribution desperately in the job markets here in the United States and the state of Texas," Conley said. "As it becomes more difficult through different climates, through acceleration of population growth and other things that are associated with providing the future food of the United State and the State of Texasto have that educated workforce, this has been one of the most successful programs at doing so in the country, and it has been standing for 100 years."

There are currently more than 600 children and adults participating in Hays County's AgriLife programs, Conley said.

"We need more scientists," Conley said. "We need more engineers here in the United States and the state of Texas. These kids have one of the highest levels of entries into science, technology and engineering that you will find with any program in the United States."

During the Feb. 18 meeting, San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero spoke in favor of the proposed education center. Guerrero said he plans to bring the issue before City Council soon.

The AgriLife Extension office is currently located at Clovis Barker and I-35, but that property could be better utilized for industrial purposes or other uses, Conley said. Building the new AgriLife facility on Freeman Ranch will free up the current location's property without removing another piece of land from the tax rolls.

Conley said Freeman's will specifies the property, which has been entrusted to Texas State and Frost Bank, is to be used for "farm, ranch and game management and educational and experimental purposes in connection with education activities carried on by [Texas State] and for the benefit of the students of [Texas State] and to the extent possible, that [Texas State] deems possible, the general public."

Bill Nance, vice-president for finance and support services at Texas State, said the university has been hesitant on the issue of the education center because the university does not own the Freeman Ranch.

Nance said signing a lease or building a show barn on the ranch would violate terms of the will that specify the university may not "lease or otherwise encumber" the property. Violation of that term would allow Frost Bank to take the property and sell it. Funds from the sale would then be distributed to about a dozen charities in San Antonio, Nance said.

"It's a non-starter. It's pretty cut and dry to us," Nance said. "We don't see—and the Frost Bank trust department agrees with this—we don't see any wiggle room here. I know some people are trying to make some wiggle room on this, but we don't see it."

Freeman Ranch is located off RR 12, in northwest San Marcos. Portions of the property are currently used for research into sustainable farming, forensic anthropology and more.

Nance said the university's stance on the issue is clear, but he will not turn down a request for a meeting.

"If [the commissioners] want to continue to talk we'll continue to talk to them, but nothing is going to change the terms of the will," he said.