Southwest Research-Extension Center
The Southwest Research-Extension Center, established in 1907, epitomizes Kansas State University Research and Extension's enduring commitment to agricultural research in southwest Kansas. Evolving from its original 320-acre footprint to nearly 900 acres, the center boasts state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technology. From its humble beginnings, it has adapted to the dynamic changes in the agricultural landscape, focusing on dryland and irrigated crop production while expanding to support Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development. Through steadfast dedication to its mission, the center addresses K-State Research and Extension's grand challenges, serving as a cornerstone of progress and prosperity in the region.
Contact Information
SW Research-Extension Center
4500 E. Mary Street
Garden City, KS 67846-9132
(P) 620-275-9164
(F) 620-276-6028
Link to the SWREC-Garden City on Google Maps.
SWREC Programs
- 4-H Youth Development
- Agronomy
- Beef Cattle Systems
- Cropping Systems
- Family and Consumer Sciences
- Irrigation Engineering
- SNAP-Ed
Service Area
The programs and services of the Southwest Research-Extension Center are focused on counties in the southwest portion of Kansas. These include: Barber, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley,
Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Meade, Morton, Pawnee,Pratt, Scott, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens, and Wichita. Kingman and Harper county are served programmatically by the SWREC but report administratively to the Easter Research-Extension Centers.
SWREC Research and Extension Associates and Specialists
- Jonathan Aguilar, Professor and Water Management/Irrigation Specialist
- Rachael Clews, Southwest FCS Specialist
- Rocio Reyes Esteves - Research Assistant Professor, Irrigation Engineering
- Amy Sollock, Southwest Extension Specialist 4-H Youth Development
- Renee Tuttle, Irrigation Extension Associate and TAPS Coordinator
- Justin Waggoner, Professor and Beef Systems Specialist
- Anthony Zukoff, Entomology Extension Associate
- Randall Curry, Weed Scientist Emeritus
HISTORY OF THE SWREC
For more than a century the SWREC has served Kansans
History
The Garden City Branch of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station was established in 1907 on 320 acres 5 miles northeast of Garden City. The Tribune Branch was established in 1911. These two branch stations were combined into the Southwest Branch Agricultural Experiment Station in 1986. In 1988, the station was given its current name: Southwest Research-Extension Center.
History of the Garden City Experiment Station 1907-1957
History of the Southwest Research and Extension Center 1957-2007
Human Resources
There are 12 research and extension faculty located at Garden City. Faculty expertise is complemented by 23 full-time support staff including clerical, maintenance, and crop technician classifications. Student workers are hired for the summer field season. To learn more, visit our faculty and staff page.
Facilities / Land Resources
The headquarters at Garden City includes 27 buildings. There are eight additional buildings at Tribune. Land resources are used for field crops research and production of foundation seed wheat or grain, hay, and silage.
| Class | Owned | Leased | Total |
| Cropland | 447 | 279 | 726 |
| Rangeland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B-R-W <1> | 109 | 56 | 165 |
| Acres | 556 | 335 | 891 |
| <1> B-R-W=Buildings, Roads, Waterways | |||
Fiscal Resources
Funding comes from a variety of sources including state appropriations (salaries and wages, operating, supplemental allocations for equipment and maintenance), crop sales (fees), grants, and gifts.