University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to Host Awards Banquet at Kimberly Research and Extension Center in Idaho
The University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) will hold its annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Kimberly Research and Extension Center, located at 3806 E 3600 N in Kimberly, Idaho. The event is expected to recognize contributions to agricultural research, extension programming, and the broader mission of supporting Magic Valley producers and agribusiness professionals.
The Kimberly Research and Extension Center serves as a fitting backdrop for such a recognition event. Established in 1950, the center has grown over more than seven decades into one of southern Idaho’s most important agricultural research institutions, now encompassing 194 acres of irrigated land, four greenhouses, multiple laboratories, a seed processing and storage facility, and a potato storage research complex. The center can be reached by phone at 208-423-4691.
A Hub for Magic Valley Agriculture
The Kimberly Research and Extension Center plays a central role in sustaining the Magic Valley’s economy, providing research and extension programs that serve producers and agribusiness professionals across eight counties in the region. The center’s research teams investigate a wide range of critical agricultural issues, including disease management, potato storage practices, plant-insect interactions, biological control, and weed management strategies — all of which have direct implications for Idaho’s farming economy.
The stakes are significant. According to figures cited by the center, nearly half of all jobs in the Magic Valley are directly or indirectly tied to agribusiness. Idaho’s farm cash receipts reached a record $11.3 billion in 2024, underscoring the outsized economic importance of the state’s agricultural sector. Irrigation infrastructure has transformed what was once desert terrain into one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, enabling production of potatoes, sugar beets, small grains, dry beans, forages, and more.
The center also maintains a close partnership with the USDA-ARS Northwest Irrigation and Soil Research Laboratory, located directly across the road, allowing researchers to share resources and collaborate on projects that benefit Idaho producers and the broader region. This kind of public-private and interagency cooperation reflects the kind of efficient, results-driven approach to government-supported research that directly benefits working Idaho families and agricultural businesses.
Research Programs Honored by the CALS Mission
Among the programs based at the Kimberly Center are a robust potato research division focused on storage management, disease control, and variety-specific practices; an entomology program studying insect pest biology and biological control strategies for crops including sugar beets, potatoes, alfalfa, cereals, and corn; and a weed science program addressing herbicide-resistant weeds across southern Idaho’s cropping systems.
A potato postharvest physiology program, launched in 2022, has added another dimension to the center’s work, examining how different potato cultivars respond to storage conditions at the biochemical level — research with direct commercial value for Idaho’s potato industry. The center also conducts several field days each year to present research findings directly to producers and agribusiness professionals.
For Twin Falls County residents interested in other community events happening around the same time, a Dementia Friends Information Session is also scheduled for Thursday, April 30, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, academic achievement continues to be celebrated locally, as seen in the recent recognition of Twin Falls High School’s Valerie Black as Scholar of the Week.
What Comes Next
The CALS Awards Banquet on April 30 offers community members, agricultural professionals, and University of Idaho supporters an opportunity to recognize those advancing Idaho’s farming future. Those interested in attending or seeking more information are encouraged to contact the Kimberly Research and Extension Center directly at 208-423-4691. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and concludes at 8:00 p.m. at 3806 E 3600 N, Kimberly, Idaho 83341.
For broader coverage of Idaho agricultural policy and statewide news affecting Magic Valley producers, readers can visit Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.