Agri News, MN
04-25-06
Closing old dairy teaching facility was difficult for ISU
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer
AMES, Iowa -- ISU College of Agriculture Dean Wendy Wintersteen said closing
the old ISU dairy teaching facility was especially hard.
"That caused a lot of angst and tears, and one of the most difficult days I ever
had was coming over for the sale of the dairy animals we sold when we shut that
farm down." said Wendy Wintersteen, Iowa State University Dean of
Agriculture.
Wintersteen said the new dairy facility will be the most expensive farm ever built
by ISU, but it will be a magnet to draw dairy science students and give the faculty
the opportunity to build on their existing excellence in research and Extension.
"This new facility will make a statement to current and potential dairy producers
that dairy is important to Iowa and Iowa State University," said Larry Shover, a
Delhi dairy producer, Midwest Dairy Association board member and ISU dairy
science graduate. "Iowa and Iowa State University, by putting this renewed and
increased emphasis on dairy, will better utilize and preserve Iowa's natural
advantages, and strengthen our economy and social structure in an
environmentally friendly way."
Kayla Hotvedt, president of the ISU Dairy Science Club, said she looks forward
to using the new ISU dairy farm as an educational tool. She best summed up
everyone's feelings when she said, "Lets get this building built.''
The new facility's animal housing and management systems will match current
industry standards and make use of the latest technology available.
A complex of buildings will be constructed on 27 acres of the 887-acre site. The
facility will include a visitor's center, a viewing area of the milking parlor,
classrooms and meeting rooms. The facility will be a primary location for handson course, labs and research projects for undergraduate and graduate students
in agriculture and veterinary medicine.
Research at the facility will emphasize nutrition, genetics and breeding, health
issues and herd management. Extension and outreach will target producers,
school children and other members of the public who want to learn more about
modern animal agriculture.