Agri News, MN
10-23-07
Wintersteen calls Iowa Dairy Farm a miracle
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer
AMES, Iowa -- Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State University College of
Agriculture dean , called it a miracle.
Maynard Hogberg, chairman of the ISU Animal Science Department, said it was a field of dreams.
But Lorilee Schultz, president of the ISU Dairy Science Club, described the new
ISU dairy farm best when she said it shows young people that Iowa is committed to the dairy industry.
"The most exciting thing about this new farm is the implication about our future,"
Schultz said at Saturday's grand opening of the ISU Dairy/Animal Science
Education and Discovery Facility south of Ames. "As many of us prepare to enter careers in the industry, it is promising and encouraging to see so much support for continued research and education in this field. That commitment lets us know that the future of dairy is brighter than ever."
Nearly 200 people attended the grand opening, which included farm tours and a chuck wagon breakfast in the free-stall barn.
"This is a state-of-the-art facility and that's what we wanted it to be," said ISU
President Gregory Geoffrey.
"We want to teach our students the latest techniques and approaches and conduct frontline research."
Wintersteen said the new dairy is about partnerships between ISU departments and colleges, National Animal Disease Center researchers and the industry.
"We will do great teaching and research at this facility," Wintersteen said.
She acknowledged there were some tense moments when she wondered if the dairy farm would be built, "but we all came together, and we did achieve a miracle, and it's going to be wonderful to bring the cows home."
Wintersteen said she was reminded "just how state-of-the-art the facility was when the University of Wisconsin's ag dean came for a visit.
"That felt good," she said.

ISU leaders admitted that building the farm was a long and complicated process.
Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance at ISU, said it started in 2002 when the Legislature passed a bill allowing for the sale of ISU's
Ankeny dairy facility with the proceeds being used to build the new dairy.
Wayne Dykshorn, president of the Iowa State Dairy Association and an Ireton dairy farmer, said the facility will benefit dairy farm families throughout the state.
"This will be known as one of the finest education and research facilities in Iowa, the nation and quite possibly the world," Dykshorn said.
Hogberg recognized Leo Timms, ISU Extension dairy specialist , as the primary driver and person involved in the day-to-day details of getting the farm built.
The original plan was to move the cows the first week in November but because of continuing rain in recent weeks, the cows will come Nov. 14 to 15, Hogberg said.