A top federal official visited the recently completed Julien Bucher Early Learning Center on Tuesday.

Russell T. Davis, administrator for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Housing and Community Facilities Program, toured the $360,000 building, which his department helped fund with a $185,000 loan and $56,000 grant.

“It’s a great honor to have him here,” said Lori Mayfield, chairwoman of the board for Friends of Head Start. “When he found out that he was coming to Idaho, he asked specifically asked to visit this center.”

An open house and dedication ceremony for the 3,000-square-foot center at 6653 Chippewa St., Bonners Ferry, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14.

The building was named after the late Julien Bucher, a Bonners Ferry-area farmer who died at age 73 on Jan. 3, 2007, from injuries he suffered in a farming accident. A 1,000-pound round bale of hay rolled onto Bucher from the forks of a hydraulic lift on his tractor.

The land for the building was donated by the Boundary County commissioners.

For the past 30 years, Head Start has been located in the kitchen and rest room building at Boundary County Fairgrounds.

The project has also been funded by more than $128,695 in community donations.

BF Builders in Bonners Ferry was the general contractor for the building.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for the community,” said Mayfield.