In 1942 one man had a vision. It was a simple hope to create a research facility in the southern Minnesota town of Austin.

J.C. Hormel’s dream became a reality.

The Hormel Institute has been a leading research entity for decades, first in the field of lipids, better known as the study of fats or fat-like substances, and now in cancer prevention.

Tomorrow, the institute celebrates its new expansion, a $23.4 million project that triples the size of its facility built in 1960.

Not bad for something that began in a renovated horse barn.

The expansion, houses 20 state-of-the-art science labs and a major conference center and library.

We congratulate the Hormel Institute on this occasion and commend institute officials for their dedication of aiming to make the world a better place through scientific research.

The institute’s existence makes Austin a better place as well.