THE GRIZZLY GREENHOUSE on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus officially opened for business Tuesday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house hosted by university officials and the West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce. Over 50 students, faculty, staff and area residents attended the event. The greenhouse, which cost an estimated $110,000 to construct, will provide a teaching laboratory for students enrolled in the university’s agribusiness educational programs developed as part of the $2.5 million U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program at the university, officials said. The facility is designed to teach a variety of horticultural techniques, including conventional horticulture, companion plantings, raised beds and aquaculture. With the ribbon are, front row from left, agriculture student Hailey Bunch, West Plains; Student Government Association President Casey Buehler, West Plains; Norm Haining and Carolyn Henry, both of Poplar Bluff, who donated fish tanks for the aquaculture program; Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Dennis Lancaster; agriculture students Kaleb Stolba, Willow Springs, and Cheston Malam, Houston; Assistant Professor of Agriculture Dr. Linda Wulff-Risner; Assistant Professor of Agriculture/Entrepreneurship Cathy Proffitt-Boys; TAACCCT Project Manager Sheila Barton; agriculture student Elizabeth Church, Alton; and greenhouse manager Craig Jennings. (Missouri State-West Plains photo)