Photo Courtesy of North Central Missouri College
Preliminary plantings have been completed and the areas designated for the development of the natural habitat on the Barton Farm Campus, set to be named in honor of the late Dr. Jim and Joanna Whitley during next week’s North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees meeting. The Whitley estate has provided in excess of $450,000 to NCMC, which has been designated for the development of the Barton Farm Campus.
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Dr. and Mrs. Whitley, who passed away in 2009 and 2010, were Columbia residents. Dr. Whitley was a graduate of Trenton High School, Trenton Junior College (now known as North Central Missouri College) and the University of Missouri, from which he earned his master of arts and doctorate degrees in agricultural chemistry. He was employed by the Missouri Department of Conservation for many years.
To date, Dr. and Mrs. Whitley’s estate has provided in excess of $450,000 for NCMC, the proceeds of which have been designated by trustees to be used in the development of the college’s Barton Farm Campus. In recognition of the gifts, the estate of Dr. and Mrs. Whitley was honored as a lead gift contributor at the NCMC Foundation’s Annual Gala in October 2012 and again in October 2013. Accepting the awards on behalf of the estate was Dr. Whitley’s sister, Carrol Key of Trenton. Also in attendance for the formal presentation at the gala were Dr. Whitley’s brother and his wife, John and Beverly Whitley, as well as his brother-in-law, Freddie Key, all of Trenton.
During the board meeting next Tuesday, Dr. Nuttall will announce the long-awaited transfer of land from the Whitley estate to NCMC. More than 100 acres of land located near Columbia owned by the Whitleys have now been deeded to the college. Work began last summer toward the development of a natural habitat area on NCMC’s Barton Farm Campus to enrich the educational experiences of students as well as provide community-based educational opportunities. A special plaque and sitting area will be permanently constructed to designate this area as the Jim and Joanna Whitley Natural Habitat Area.
Dr. Nuttall will ask the trustees for permission to sell the Columbia property to provide funds to further develop the Barton Campus and to retire existing debt.
“We have tried very hard to honor the memory of Jim and Joanna Whitley and have worked for three years to obtain the deed to this property,” stated Dr. Nuttall. “Their estate plan designated their desire to have a conservation easement or restrictions in the property deed. Therefore, the deed includes a comprehensive conservation easement and it is the intent of North Central Missouri College to sell this land to an individual or group who value conservation and hunting.” The easement contains language which limits the buyer to three acres of development (in a building envelope) to help the new owner effectively manage the property. Soil tests have been conducted which verify the envelope’s impact on the property as a whole.
In addition, Dr. Nuttall will ask trustees to designate a student scholarship in honor of Jim and Joanna Whitley. The scholarship will provide funds to a student who desires to pursue a degree in agriculture with a conservation emphasis. The successful honoree must be a full-time NCMC student and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0.
“We deeply appreciate the contributions made by Jim and Joanna Whitley and will honor their memory by producing a strong conservation area on our campus with valuable teaching/learning aids for our students,” Dr. Nuttall said.