{"id":247385,"date":"2026-06-11T07:15:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T11:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=247385"},"modified":"2026-06-10T16:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T20:13:17","slug":"plant-and-soil-center-opens-to-the-public","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/06\/plant-and-soil-center-opens-to-the-public\/","title":{"rendered":"Plant and Soil Center Opens to the Public"},"content":{"rendered":"

The University of Connecticut community, state legislators, and special guests gathered on Thursday, June 4, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially mark the opening of the George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The space brings together UConn\u2019s public-facing agricultural services, helping residents, farmers, and other industries with essential services such as plant diagnostics, soil analysis, and science-based solutions. It also establishes a hub for researchers to address critical agrarian issues facing our state and nation, supported by a flexible, collaborative laboratory space for the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"Attendees<\/a>
Attendees at the Minor Center ribbon cutting<\/div><\/div>\"President<\/a>
President Radenka Maric and State Representative Tammy Nuccio<\/div><\/div>\"CAHNR<\/a>
CAHNR Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan speaks at the ribbon cutting<\/div><\/div>\"UConn<\/a>
UConn Foundation President Amy Yancey joined guests and family to celebrate this significant act of generosity<\/div><\/div>\"Longtime<\/a>
Longtime friend, Jim Murdock, shared memories of George at the Minor Center ribbon cutting.<\/div><\/div>\"CAHNR<\/a>
CAHNR Development Director Barbara Palmer presents a plaque to George Leigh Minor's family<\/div><\/div>\"Event<\/a>
Event attendees tour the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory<\/div><\/div>\"Event<\/a>
Event attendees toured the newly opened center, including the Home Garden Education Office<\/div><\/div>\"State<\/a>
State Senator Mae Flexer, State Representatives Gregg Haddad, Tammy Nuccio, and Senior Outreach Assistant for US Senator Chris Murphy, Erin McBride<\/div><\/div>\"Elected<\/a>
Elected officials, UConn leadership, and George Leigh Minor's family, including Minor's sister, Elizabeth Baker, cut the ribbon on the Minor Center<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>