The Nova Scotia Agricultural College president created a lot of laughs when he suggested people not call the new $9.8-million facility a barn during yesterday’s grand opening.

“What we have here is a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge research facility,” he said.

About six years ago, plans were drawn to replace the 40-year-old barn at the Bible Hill campus. The initial design called for an investment of about $4.5 million, but the project grew and building costs escalated. The money was raised through government, industry and personal donations.

The money was well spent, Hicks said following a tour of the facility.

“We can offer something in one package that no other university in the country can offer,” he said. “NSAC is at the forefront of the poultry industry throughout North America thanks to this new facility.”

And that, hopefully, will increase research at the facility and attract more students to campus.

Ross McCurdy, Canada Foundation for Innovation director, described it as “a world-class facility that will dramatically accelerate poultry research and training.”