The long-awaited construction of a new Idaho Wheat Commission building is officially moving forward after years of discussion and planning. The new facility, named the Idaho Wheat and Ag Center, is set to cost $14 million.

The previous structure, which was demolished in December, will make way for the 31,000-square-foot building, nearly four times the size of the original facility. Construction is slated to begin this spring, with a target completion date of spring 2026.

Historically, the Wheat Commission paid rent at the Owyhee Plaza in downtown Boise. However, in 2003, they purchased the current building at 821 W. State Street, one block away from the Idaho State Capitol, for $1.2 million. The old building, erected in 1945, had deteriorated to the point where it required significant investments for upkeep, according to IWC Executive Director Britany Hurst Marchant.

“It had just reached a point where significant investment was necessary just to maintain the functionality and to update heating, cooling, wiring and safety components of the building,” she explained. “After evaluating all of the options, it was just very clear that a new building was the most fiscally responsible way to go to meet the needs and objectives of the Idaho Wheat Commission and to be responsible stewards of wheat growers’ dollars.”

Cory Kress, a Rockland farmer and IWC member, emphasized the need for expansion. “We just needed to build a new building,” he said. “We decided to maximize our space availability and build it as big as we could.”

The demolished building also housed several other agricultural organizations, including the Idaho Barley Commission, Idaho Grain Producers Association, Idaho Wine Commission, Idaho Bean Commission, Milk Producers of Idaho, and key staff from the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Since 2003, the facility had become a central hub for Idaho agriculture, especially during legislative sessions when Food Producers of Idaho, representing around 40 of the state's main agricultural groups, convened weekly to discuss legislation affecting the industry.

Reflecting on the old building's legacy, Bill Flory, a North Idaho wheat farmer and former IWC Commissioner, remarked, “The old building has served us and the industry very well and I look forward to the new building. It’s a meeting place for the industry and the wheat commission has always been generous with meeting space.”

Marchant expressed her hopes that the new building would continue fostering collaboration. “Having that collaboration and camaraderie between each of the groups is so valuable,” she noted. “We have the same issues in a lot of ways and we may approach those differently, but we’re all working toward, ultimately, the same end goal.”

The new, four-story structure will once again accommodate various agricultural commodity groups. The ground floor is expected to feature retail or “active use” spaces, which means high foot traffic. The second and third floors will house offices, while the top floor will serve as a meeting space.

Marchant highlighted the importance of increasing the size and number of meeting rooms: “Everything’s bigger,” she said. “We increased the size of the meeting rooms and added more meeting rooms. We’ll have three different sizes of meeting space in the new building so it can accommodate large groups, medium-sized groups, and smaller groups.”

The idea of a new building has been under discussion for years, with delays caused by various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Marchant explained that the Wheat Commission considered relocating, but the current site, near the State Capitol, was a major factor in their decision to stay put.

“It’s important to Idaho wheat producers, and others in Idaho agriculture, that we maintain the proximity to the Capitol building and facilitate those interactions with state representatives, officials and lawmakers,” Marchant said. “And that location is an important reminder of the legacy and the contributions that agriculture has made to Idaho’s economy and heritage.”

Kress added, “Obviously, you couldn’t ask for a better location for Idaho agriculture.”

Originally reported by Idaho Ag Today.