Oregon’s oldest branch agricultural research station celebrates 125 years of operation in Union
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, July 27th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION – Universities are far more than just lecture halls and fancy campuses and often serve as critical research institutions and community hubs. While many Eastern Oregon Residents may be familiar with the Oregon State University Extension Office and its role in 4H, another branch of the college is celebrating and incredible milestone. On Monday, September 14, the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center’s Union Station will officially celebrate its 125th anniversary.
According to the Center’s 100-year history report, published in 2001, The Union Experiment Station was initially founded in the fall of 1901. Then Oregon Governor Theador T. Greer initially suggested the use of state-owned land near the City of Union for a new agricultural college. Though the legislation for an industrial college on the land failed, a subsequent proposal for a branch experiment station passed, with, “Professor A.B. Leckenby, appointed superintendent in March 1901” (100-year-history).
The original facility building was completed in October 1901, with the Union Station becoming the first, and to date, oldest, branch agriculture research station owned and operated by OSU, and the oldest branch station in the state of Oregon.
Currently, the station consists of 600 acres of farmland from its initially established base property, along with a further 2,000 acres of forested land from the Hal Ranch incorporated in 1939. Around 200 cattle currently reside on the land, with the station’s current research focus, as written by OSU, being:
“Evaluation of ecologically and economically sustainable animal agriculture in northeastern Oregon. Research will focus on compatibility of livestock with forested range ecosystems. In addition, research is focused on economic sustainability with particular emphasis on alternative winter management and reproductive efficiency.”
In celebration of the station’s 125th anniversary, a public event will be hosted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, September 14th. The event will feature speakers, a tour of the station’s buildings, photo and history displays, and catered food. The public is invited to the station at 372 South 10th Street, Union. RSVPing is encouraged (though not required) at: https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GT6JwAScLh9zWC
More on the station’s current status can be found at: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/eoarc/facilities/union-station
The stations’ 2001 100-year history report can be read at: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/eoarc/facilities/union-station
The event flyer can also be found below:
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Left photo hosted online by OHSU. Right photo taken from Union Experiment Station 100-year history pdf, page 12.
