More than 50 years ago, the Ag 450 Farm was founded with 187 acres and a goal — to offer students hands-on experience in managing a farm.

Since 1943, this farm has grown to 1,000 acres and continues to be a place where seniors gain practical knowledge.

The farm was created in 1937 by William Murray, professor of economics at Iowa State.

“His goal was to give the students a practical experience in managing a farm before they actually went back to the farm,” said Larry Trede, professor currently in charge of the Ag 450 Farm.

When it was founded, the idea was to offer experience through a class, Agriculture 450, which put the students in charge. They were the managers of the farm and had to make the decisions.

Today, the class is still offered but is known as Agriculture Education and Studies 450.

“When the farm was founded, many students still went back to the farm after receiving their degree,” Trede said. Today, Trede maintains that although fewer students are becoming career farmers, the experience still is invaluable. The students get to see the effects of their decisions, whether good or bad.

“Every decision is a good decision,” Trede said. “Some turn out better than others, but what we try to do is have students learn from the decisions they make.”

Each semester, about 40 to 45 students enroll in the class and are then split into one of eight committees: crops, swine breeding, swine management, machinery/equipment, buildings and grounds, finance, marketing and public relations.

Wes Hays, senior in agricultural studies, is on the crops committee. His group makes decisions such as what type and how much of a certain crop should be grown.

“The most valuable experience is being able to see the impact of your decisions,” Hays said. “There are a lot of things to consider, like the land you have available, prices, input costs and the money available.”

In a time of economic stress, Trede pointed out that the farm is largely self-sufficient and its success depends on the decisions of the students.

“Last year particularly has caused some real financial stress,” Trede said. “Students have had to be very creative in the ways they try to manage and operate.”