One of the toughest challenges facing agriculture in Colorado is the divide between those living in urban areas and agriculture. In other states, when people want to spend time outside of the city, they’ll travel through farmland to reach their destination. In Colorado, urbanites head for the famed Rocky Mountains, due west of the cities along the I-25 corridor, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Pueblo.
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The CSU Spur is housed in three different buildings: Vida, Hydro, and Terra. Vida, the red brick building on the right, is all about animals. It has a vet clinic that allows visitors to watch and listen in on surgeries. The large animal area uses Temple Grandin methods to rehab horses and cattle. It also has an arena where it helps rehab humans using horses.
Hydro has the most spectacular architecture of the three, playing on water movement. It houses Colorado state testing labs as well as educational interactive sections.
Terra houses crop science research.
Photo by Carol Miller
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Touch screen panels allow visitors to learn more about Colorado agriculture in English and Spanish.
Photo by Carol Miller
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Science is on display throughout the complex. Here, visitors can see lab workers testing crops for diseases.
Photo by Carol Miller
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Researchers are using a rooftop garden to study microclimates, soil types, and irrigation.
Photo by Carol Miller
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Local chefs will use the test kitchens to demonstrate different ways to prepare the crops visitors learn about throughout the building.
Photo by Carol Miller
It just so happens most growing operations are in the opposite direction, in the Great Plains portion of the state.
Colorado State University is making a serious effort to bridge that divide. Its CSU Spur brings together the ag industry and the public in a fresh way. It’s part interactive museum and part research facility.
Pictures will help better explain how it works. Scroll the photo gallery above to take a virtual tour.
September 7, 2023 
