The Where Food Comes From - Colorado State University ties run deep. Leann Saunders, who with her husband, John, founded the company, is a CSU alumnus. Among her many relationships as a student at CSU, Leann ranks Dr. Gary Smith, known as the "dean of meat science professors" as a personal and professional mentor. Not only did he help guide her studies, he serves on the company's board of directors.

So when Colorado State University — a land-grant University — announced plans to renovate the existing Animal Science building and construct the new JBS Global Food Innovation Center in honor of Gary and Kay Smith, John and Leann Saunders knew they had to be involved.

Plans include a complete livestock and meat processing center, spanning the meatanimal harvesting process, fully equipped with a livestock arena, Temple Grandin designed holding and harvesting areas, a research and development center and sensory analysis room, lecture hall, and meat demonstration classroom.

And, opening April 9, 2019, the Where Food Comes From Market — a retail store featuring products being produced locally, meat from CSU and products that are using the Where Food Comes From verification services.