After more than 70 years of hands-on learning, two historical ISU dairy barns will cease to house livestock but will live on as educational structures.

“We’re in a transition stage this semester,” said Brian Meyer, program director for the College of Agriculture.

Decisions are being made on what the future will hold for the land and the barns, but there are no plans to tear anything down yet, Meyer said.

“It’s going to take time and we’ll seek input on what the future uses for the land or barns will be,” Meyer said.

Douglas Kenealy, professor of animal science, said the barns will be used through October. After October, the barns will be used to teach classes.

“There are a lot of rumors out there that aren’t true,” Kenealy said.

Ray Anderson, representative for the Ames Historic Preservation Commission, said the commission currently doesn’t anticipate any action concerning the barns to be taken. He said there is a chance some of the horses from the Horse Barn could be moved to the Dairy Farm in the future.

“Right now there is no information available to us about what the university plans on doing with the buildings,” he said.

According to the Animal Science Web site, www.ans.iastate.edu, there are two dairy barns that have been used at Iowa State since the late 1920s and 1930s. The Dairy Farm Pavilion barn was built in the early 1920s.

“[The Dairy Farm Pavilion] was being used for teaching reasons and the Ames 4-H club,” Kenealy said. “[The barns] will still be used as a teaching facility after the farm closes.”

The second dairy barn, which is the milking parlor, was constructed in 1937. The building was previously used for milking cows.

“There won’t be any animals at the dairy barns after October,” said Catherine Woteki, dean of the College of Agriculture.

The College of Agriculture is still committed to providing a quality education to animal science students in the future, Woteki said.

Katie Zumbach, freshman in dairy science, first heard about the farm closing in late June. She said she was well-informed of the decision, as a member of the Dairy Science Club.

Zumbach said she considered transferring and looked at other schools throughout the rest of the summer.

“I decided to come back because I already made connections here,” she said. “I don’t know how the dairy science program will continue without a facility for hands-on experience.”

Mike Taylor, director and manager of the dairy barn, said he hasn’t been told anything about the future of the buildings. He recently took over the job after the resignation of Jay Beck, former director and manager.

“All I know is the cattle sale is going to be on October 11,” he said.

Taylor will remain as the farm manager until the farm closes.