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April 27, 2012

Celebrating the Morrill 'Land-Grant' Act

The nation's pioneer land-grant university celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Land-Grant act April 26, brightening the penultimate week of spring term 2012 with ice cream and T-shirts for students readying for final exams.

The Morrill Act of 1862 created America's system of land-grant colleges and universities, and across the country they are observing the sesquicentennial throughout the year.

The light-hearted commemoration April 26 featured actors portraying Land-Grant Act sponsor U.S. Rep. Justin Morrill and President Abraham Lincoln, chatting up visitors to another cherished MSU landmark, The Rock on Farm Lane.

The MSU Dairy Store created a new ice cream flavor for the occasion, Morrill Mint Madness.

For more information about upcoming events, including a celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this summer that includes a program developed by MSU Museum curator Kurt Dewhurst, visit msu.edu/morrill-celebration/.

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