Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building at State Fair Community College marked the culmination of a major fundraising effort by the college’s foundation to build the state-of-the-art facility on campus.

The Ellebrachts were on hand to celebrate the building’s completion, having provided $2 million of the $20 million sought by the college and foundation to construct and outfit the 60,000 square foot facility. Steve Ellebracht recounted the effort to bring business partners and community leaders together for the addition to the Sedalia campus.

Ellebracht is a native of Pilot Grove who returned to Central Missouri eight years ago, later joining the SFCC Foundation board. He says the new building is an asset to not just the local community, but for the region and agriculture as a whole.

The first classes in the new Ellebracht Agriculture building will begin with the fall semester at State Fair Community College on Aug. 18.