Ag450 Farm

The Ag450 Farm allows students to be involved in everyday management decisions and practices of a typical central Iowa farm. The Ag450 Farm is the only completely student managed farm at a land grant university in the United States.

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AG 450 FARM Signs Contract to Raise Feeder to Finish Pigs

In 2002, the Ag 450 farm farrow to finish production levels slowly began to decrease due to a PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in the swine herd. After evaluating our production records and concerns over a labor shortage the class decided to depopulate the entire herd. The 2007 Ag 450 class approved signing a contract with Jay Lampe of Swine Graphics to raise feeder to finish pigs. The swine committee worked with Jay to update the finisher and get the building ready for the pigs. The pigs arrived on the farm March 19, 2007.

 

Jay Lampe (Swine Graphics) and Dr. Charles Steiner (Ag450 Professor-in-Charge) sign contract for feeder to finish pigs.

News & Updates

Tyler Schau Ready for the Challenge

Tyler Schau is the instructor for AgEds 450 and AgEds 311 and also serves as the Farm Op Club advisor. He received his BS in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University in 2003 and is currently working on his MS in Agricultural Education. Tyler was an instructor and rodeo coach for three years at Iowa Central Community College prior to taking the position at Iowa State University.

Ag Shop Constructed

The Iowa State Research farms, Animal Science department, and the Ag 450 class have constructed a new shop and educational teaching laboratory to better fit the needs of students and the College of Agriculture. The Ag 450 class donated the location for the shop and the users will share a percentage of the cost and time in the building. The primary uses for the shop will be to manage repairs for the Animal Science farms and Ag 450 farm. The agricultural mechanization teaching laboratory will be used to assist in preparing Agricultural Education majors to teach the Agricultural Mechanics classes, such as welding, machinery maintenance and repairs, and electricity. Courses will be designed for current students and continuing education for current agricultural teachers in the state and others interested in agricultural mechanics courses. The shop consists of three shop bays, a classroom, office, restroom, and storage area above the shop.

 

Completed Shop

South Side

Additional photos