Ag450 Farm

Got a question?

Tyler Schau
515-294-0047

Farm Manager
Greg Vogel
515-292-0742

Historical Side Notes

MURRAY, WILLIAM G. (1903-1991).

Agricultural economist, founder of Living History Farms, and Iowa gubernatorial candidate. William G. Murray received a B.A. from Coe College (1924), an M.A. from Harvard University (1925), and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (1932). He came to Iowa State University in 1927, with teaching and research interests in farm land valuation and finance. Murray served as head of the Department of Economics and Sociology at Iowa State from 1943 to 1955. In 1935-1936, he was chief economist with the Farm Credit Administration, and in 1948 he served as president of the American Agricultural Economics Association. Murray played a prominent role in the creation and early history of Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa. In 1967, he helped organize the Living History Farm Foundation. He served as research director of Living History Farms from 1967 to 1974, and as its president from 1974 to 1981. Murray was also involved in Iowa politics, and was Iowa's Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1958 and 1966. Much of the collection relates to Murray's work with Living History Farms.

Early Photos

Chickens were a part of the original farm livestock (1940s).	Checking the corn crop (1940s).	Student and instructor reviewing crop records.
Original farm house	Dairy cows (1950s)	Harvesting Grain (1950s)
Early class (1950s)	Farmstead (1950s)	Chickens (1940s)

Farmall Model C

Farmall Model C with two bottom plow

In 1948 the first Farmall Model C tractor rolled out of the factory and into the farmer's field. A follow-on to the Model B, it was slightly larger in size but kept the same 113 CID engine and 4-speed transmission. Other upgrades included adjustable rear tire spacing (with sliding hubs), a frame design similar to the larger Farmall Models H and M, and International Harvester's new "Touch Control" system which allowed the operator to lower and raise implements by touching one small lever. The tractor was very versatile and was used primarily on smaller farms or for small jobs on large farms. (Source: Yesterday Tractor Co. http://ytmag.com/articles/artint217.htm)

 

Grain Leg & Drying Equipment

Grain leg & storage bins (1967)

Corn dryer

Grain leg (1976)

 

Livestock Photos 1970s

Cargill Unit (1974)	Farrow-nursey (1976)	Pasture farrowing (1970s)
Pasture hogs (1970s)		Cattle (1977)

Photos 1980s

First Computer	Farmstead (1982)	Class (1983)
Cattle (1980s)	Hog Huts (1980s)	Unloading Hay (1983)
Pasture Hogs (1980s)		Farmstead (1981)

Machine Shed #2

Machine shed #2

A second machine shed was constructed at the north end of the farmstead in 1989. This allowed for storage of larger pieces of equipment used in the farming operation.

Photos 1990s

Open front swine building	Students working on planter	Working on sprayer
Class committee (1977)	Working in the field	1997 Fall class
1996 Fall class	Farmstead (1996)	Garage construction
Sorting hogs (1995)		Planting windbreak (1997)

 

Photos 2000s

Classroom Addition	Classroom Addition	Finisher (2003)