A New Direction
Minton moves into support role to complete funding for Agriculture Innovation Initiative
By Janae McKinney
Photo by Dan Donnert
Ernie Minton, the former Eldon Gideon Dean of K-State's College of Agriculture and director of K-State Research and Extension, is ready for what's next.
Minton, who launched a $210 million capital campaign known as the Agriculture Innovation Initiative, transitioned on July 6 to his new role as special assistant to the president.
In this new position, he will report primarily to President Richard Linton, with secondary responsibility to the dean of the College of Agriculture.
Mintonw ill support fundraising efforts to close the gap on the Agriculture Innovation Initiative by working with the K-State Foundation’s agriculture development team and leadership to use the momentum and connections he has developed with alumni, donors and industry partners.
The Agriculture Innovation Initiative includes three new facilities: the Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, the Bilbrey Family Event Center and the Agronomy Research and Innovation Center, as well as renovations to Weber Hall and Call Hall.
As of summer, 2025, the fundraising progress on the Agriculture Innovation Initiative is 90% complete. Minton said the project’s goal is to complete fundraising to ensure the College of Agriculture does not need to secure bonds to finish the project. Beyond that, he said he hopes to exceed the original goal of $210 million to complete a list of project alternatives.
“We’ve got some additional alternatives we want to include in the initiative, and because we set that $210 million goal several months back, now we have rising construction costs,” Minton said. “We will raise funds to fill out the facilities, including the Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation, as well as renovations to Weber and Call Hall. We are also committed to the replacement of the beef cattle feeding facility at the Beef Cattle Research Center, and I can help the KSU Foundation’s ag development team get that finished out as well.”
He is currently projected to serve in this role for 12 to 18 months, beginning July 6, 2025. In addition to fundraising, he will work with campus facility partners and stay up-to-date with the needs of contractors and architects.
Minton also will provide support for Dan Moser, who was named interim dean of the College of Agriculture. In his new role for the university, however, Minton said he believes he is doing what he enjoys the most.
“I really enjoy interacting with people who have a passion for K-State, and so they want to support K-State,” Minton said. “Encouraging fundraising with the goal of improvements to the college is something people can get behind. I’m most excited about seeing people jump in with their contributions to support that mission. I’m also looking forward to supporting the transition for Dan, where help is needed and wanted, to allow the change to be smooth.”
Prior to being named dean, Minton spent 25 years as a faculty member for the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry and has been in an administrative role for the college since 2008.
“The realization that the Agriculture Innovation Initiative is actually going to be done is the biggest and most obvious takeaway for me,” Minton said. “We have been talking about the need for upgraded facilities for decades. It’s so rewarding to know we are replacing buildings in disrepair with state-of-the-art facilities. But, I’m going to miss interacting with students, (as well as the) great faculty and staff.”
Minton always had a goal of leaving the College of Agriculture in a better spot than he found it, and he believes most deans share that thought, too.
“We want to make the position as dean very attractive for potential successors,” Minton said. “We have a top 10 College of Agriculture here, and that’s the caliber of leadership we think this position demands.”
The search for the next dean of the college will resume in fall, 2025.