Eunice Kelm has gifted the more than 186-acre Kelm Angus Farm, located approximately 10 miles north of the Blinn College-Brenham Campus, to the Blinn College Foundation to be used for educational purposes by the Blinn College District Agricultural Sciences Department.
The gift marks the largest land donation in Blinn College history.
“The enormity of this gift is exceeded only by the love and support Eunice Kelm and her family have for Blinn’s agricultural students and faculty,” said Sam Sommer, Chair of the Blinn College Foundation. “As one of the largest donations ever to the College, this is a transformational moment for all involved.”
Blinn plans to use the property to provide hands-on learning opportunities on an active, operating ranch.
“This generous donation adds to the exciting new era that the Agricultural Sciences Department is experiencing,” said Dr. Bryn Behnke, Assistant Dean of Agricultural Sciences. “On behalf of all our faculty, staff, and students, I would like to thank Eunice Kelm and the Kelm family for this generous donation. We look forward to providing the next generation of agricultural leaders the opportunity to develop their skills on a working ranch.”
Elwood & Eunice Kelm
Kelm Angus Farm was established by Elwood and Eunice Kelm in 1975 with a handful of Angus cattle. Together, they always supported local 4-H and FFA organizations and sponsored youth with registered Angus heifers. Elwood Kelm, who passed away in 2017, enjoyed a close friendship with Blinn Agricultural Sciences Professor Doug Pierce dating back to the 1980s. Three generations of the Kelm family have graduated from Blinn.
“I’m confident that with Doug’s supervision, along with the other ag faculty, this facility will be used to educate young ag students about raising good Angus cattle and producing excellent forage with good pasture management,” Eunice Kelm wrote in a letter to Blinn’s Board of Trustees. “We, in agriculture, must be efficient in order to feed the ever-increasing population of the world.”
Based at the W.J. “Bill” Rankin Agricultural Complex on the Brenham Campus, Blinn’s Agricultural Sciences Program is approximately four times the size of any other two-year agricultural program in the state. Blinn is an active member of the Agriculture Consortium of Texas and maintains close associations with department heads and representatives from all Texas agriculture universities to ensure a smooth transition for students. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/agricultural-sciences.
The Blinn Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization designed to provide financial support for programs and activities that enhance the quality of education for Blinn College students and expand educational opportunities for the entire community. The Foundation supports the College by generating private and corporate gifts for scholarships, academic programs, student activities, campus buildings, and special events, and seeks to heighten community awareness of the mission and accomplishments of the College and to promote excellence in education. For more information, visit https://foundation.blinn.edu.
