College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Alumni & Friends

Duane Stuever always knew he wanted to do something for MSU. It was never a question of if, but how.

Inspired by his family’s generational connection to the university and his passion for the dairy industry, Stuever recently finalized a gift in support of the new MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Facility. In recognition of this contribution, the conference room inside the state-of-the-art facility has been officially renamed the Stuever Family Conference Room.

Stuever’s gift is part of a recently launched campaign aimed at raising over $1 million in support of the facility from Michigan dairy producers and farm families. “MSU is such a big part of our family’s story, between the university, 4-H and Extension,” said Stuever. “When I decided to give back, I knew it had to be for the dairy.”

Deep Spartan roots

Stuever comes from a proud Spartan family deeply rooted in agriculture. His father, Alfred, completed the agricultural “short course” at Michigan State College and, together with his wife, Doris, ran a family farm in Capac, MI, where they raised cows, crops and kids. One of eight siblings, all the Stuever children were educated at MSU. Doris attended MSU as well but did not graduate.

This strong Spartan tradition extended even further. Four of the Stuever grandchildren attended MSU, continuing the family legacy. Two of Stuever’s mother’s sisters were Spartans too, one even met her husband on campus. Another has demonstrated her enduring support for MSU through planned giving.

This Spartan family connection extended far beyond the classroom. Growing up, MSU was an integral part of their family life. Stuever remembers gathering around their TV to watch MSU football and basketball games. “If MSU had a game around lunch time, we’d all get together for pizza,” said Stuever. “As we got older, my sister would always call our mom after a game because she knew Mom would still be up.”

Stuever and his siblings were shaped by their involvement with MSU Extension, 4-H and FFA. Their farm benefitted directly from services like TelFarm, an outreach program that assists farmers with business management, taxes and financial planning.

Advancing dairy excellence, accelerating careers

Following in his family’s footsteps, Stuever spent his career in the dairy industry. While he no longer raises cows on his farm, he’s passionate about advancing this vital industry and knows that MSU plays an essential role educating the dairy leaders of tomorrow.

As Michigan’s largest agricultural sector, dairy annually adds more than $15 billion to the state’s economy. In partnership with producers and stakeholders, MSU helps keep Michigan dairy industry at the forefront of innovation.

“MSU should be number one in teaching and research in dairy. Michigan might not be the biggest dairy producer in the U.S., but we can be the best.”

Stuever has actively followed the progress of the new MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, advocating for its construction and encouraging support from Michigan’s dairy community. This new 165,000-square-foot complex replaces the 1960’s-era facility that Stuever worked on during his time as a student and triples the farm’s herd capacity from 250 to 680 cows.

Designed to meet the demands of today’s producers and educators, the center positions MSU alongside national dairy leaders and brings Spartan dairy infrastructure into the 21st century. Stuever is excited about how this dynamic space will introduce students to a wide range of career opportunities.

“Dairy affects more than just farmers, there are thousands of jobs associated with this industry.” said Stuever. “When I was in school, there were people who worked at the farm who, at first, had no interest in dairy, but that’s where they found careers. This new center gives students opportunities they might never have considered.”

Paying it forward and inspiring others

While he has never been one to seek attention, Stuever hopes that his gift will encourage others in the industry to make their own contributions to the dairy facility.Along with naming the Stuever Family Conference Room, Stuever also gifted his 2015 John Deere 9230 tractor, featuring his father’s signature inside the hood.  

“I’m not someone who likes recognition,” he said, “but if someone sees the conference room and says, ‘Hey, I know them, how did they pull that off?’ that would be neat.”

Stuever is proud that his family name will be represented in an area of the facility where students, faculty, staff and community members will gather to learn and collaborate. But the meaning behind his gift goes far deeper than that.

Generosity is something he learned by example in his family. As the chairman of the board and executive vice president of Capac State Savings Bank, Stuever’s grandfather Norman Brennan was well-known for quiet acts of kindness and integrity.

Commonly called ‘Uncle Norm, The Banker’, Stuever recalls how his grandfather would often approve farm loans simply on trust alone. “He’d say, ‘We’ll handle that paperwork later,’ and never hesitated to drop everything to help friends and neighbors.”

His parents also set a precedent for generously donating time and resources in support of their community. For years, the farm’s pool hosted YMCA swimming lessons, giving hundreds of local kids the chance to learn to swim. “Their example stuck with me. This gift is my way of continuing that tradition.” 

“I’m at a point in my life where I can be generous,” he said. “If my story inspires someone else to give, that’s worth it.”

You have an opportunity to make your mark on the future of the dairy industry. Learn more about how you can be recognized for your support of the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center here.