Penn State has more than 13,000 acres of research forests and farmland. Why would it need any more?

The College of Agricultural Sciences has begun to outline its answer, as the university fights to claim the Spring Creek Canyon property to the east of campus.

Bruce McPheron, dean of the college, said he's looking for about 100 acres because his faculty has more funding than land to conduct agricultural research.

"Opportunities are out there and our faculty can get grants, but we don't have enough certified land," he said.

With legislative support from state Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton, Penn State could soon purchase a portion of Spring Creek Canyon for $1 million.

But the Pennsylvania Game Commission, with support from state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, is fighting to purchase the same property for twice that price. If granted ownership, the game commission would lease some land to the university for research.

McPheron said he is laying out plans for the property -- currently owned by the State Correctional Institution at Rockview -- with a "broad brush," because experts would need to survey the land before planning projects. One idea he has is to raise food on the land for local use -- perhaps for use in the dining commons or food banks downtown.

"We can't get rid of the current food system because we have six billion people to feed, but we can make it better," he said. "We can insert choices, and local foods are something that people are really interested in right now. This isn't just a fad."

Jennifer Shuey, communication liaison for the master plan and executive director of the ClearWater Conservancy, said in March that the plan was crafted under the assumption that Penn State, Benner Township and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission would each purchase a section of Spring Creek Canyon in the future.

For Shuey, the site's eventual owner is irrelevant as long as they share her organization's pro-environment goals. But for some area residents, the idea of the university as the canyon's steward is a bitter pill to swallow.

Bellefonte resident Richard Shreve said the Pennsylvania Game Commission is best suited to own the property.

"They have the experience, they have the people, and it would stay within the state ownership," he said, adding he fears Penn State would eventually use the land for commercial purposes.

The president of the advocacy group Penn State Eco-Action said he is also hesitant for the university to take control of the canyon.

"The vision seems very vague at best," Carlo Sica (senior-physical and environmental geography) said. "Judging by Penn State's track record ... Eco-Action cannot support land management practices that entail spraying manure over wilderness for the purposes of agricultural research."

Benner Township Supervisor Dave Breon said he is supportive of Penn State's vision.

"Penn State has a desire for ecological research and the like, and that seemed to dovetail with ... the goals for the community there," he said.

McPheron said he plans to work with community members and landowners as mandated by the master plan for the land, which was laid out by Benner Township officials earlier this year.

"It's not a question of getting permission but coming to a consensus," he said.