Iowa State McNay Reseassrch Farm to celebrate 50th anniversary

The Iowa State University McNay Research and Demonstration Farm near Chariton will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sept. 14. The public is invited to attend the celebration starting at 10 a.m. The Lucas County Cattlemen are serving steak sandwiches and homemade ice cream at noon. Following the luncheon, a short program will include comments from Wendy Wintersteen, dean of Iowa State University's College of Agriculture, and a video history about the farm. During the day experts will present research results on soil fertility, tillage research, corn management, grazing management, pasture weaning, fall calving, gardening, sheep research and round bale research. Other displays will feature a history of the farm, beef cattle production in Iowa, soils of southern Iowa, antique farm machinery, an electric fence demonstration and Angus calves sired by bulls from the 1950s and 1960s. The farm was established after Harry McNay and his sister, Winnie, donated 480 acres in 1956. The gift allowed Iowa State to broaden the scope of research conducted in southern Iowa. Research at the farm has primarily focused on cattle, sheep, forage and crops.  To get to the McNay Research and Demonstration Farm go south four miles on Highway 65 from the intersection of Highways 65 and 34, then 2.5 miles east on a gravel road and turn north one-quarter of a mile. The main buildings are located on the west side of the road. To reduce the risk of spreading diseases to livestock, visitors are asked to observe a precautionary five-day waiting period if they have recently arrived in the United States or have returned from a trip abroad. If you have questions, please call the Research and Demonstration Farms office, (515) 294-5045.