Babcock Hall Dairy Plant
In 1891, a year after announcing his now-famous butterfat test, Dr. Stephen Babcock offered instruction at the University of Wisconsin in performing the test and applying the results. Thus began the first dairy school in America. Babcock Hall opened in 1950 and houses the present dairy plant. The plant's mission is to do research, provide instruction, and perform public service. Unlike most industrial dairy plants, the Babcock Hall plant produces a variety of products. This allows students, researchers, and industry personnel to study and utilize several dairy processes in one facility. The plant is required to generate one hundred percent of its operating costs from the sale of dairy products on campus.