AMES, Iowa – A gift from Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) will promote College of Agriculture and Life Sciences student innovation in the new Student Innovation Center at Iowa State University. The $250,000 gift will help support technology and innovation programming within the new facility.
“Farm Credit Services of America’s support of student innovation is a great example of the forward-thinking nature and drive to advance in Iowa’s vibrant agriculture industry. This generous gift provides our students access to world-class facilities to share ideas and develop strategies to meet the challenges and opportunities of feeding and fueling the future,” said Daniel J. Robison, endowed dean’s chair of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The Student Innovation Center, newly opened in August 2020, is designed to be a resource to the entire university community, offering unique facilities and workspaces to foster innovation and promote experiential learning. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences collaboration and program space sponsored by the gift is located on the fourth floor. Funds also will be used to support college exhibits highlighting innovations and showcasing the breadth and depth of disciplines and career pathways available in agriculture and life sciences.
“Investing in the future of agriculture is part of FCSAmerica’s mission as a financial cooperative owned by farmers and ranchers, and our donation to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will benefit agricultural producers for years to come,” said Jim Knuth, FCSAmerica’s senior vice president of business development in Iowa. “Each generation has adapted and innovated to make U.S. producers the most productive in the world. Tomorrow’s producers will continue to advance the industry through exploration and collaboration in spaces like Iowa State’s Student Innovation Center.”
Farm Credit Services of America is a leading provider of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. They made their gift commitment through the Iowa State University Foundation. The foundation is a private, nonprofit organization committed to securing and managing gifts that benefit Iowa State University. The Forever True, For Iowa State campaign, with a historic goal to raise $1.5 billion, will help support Iowa State in becoming the premier land-grant university for the 21st century and beyond.