AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University’s department of animal science recently broke ground on the nation’s first turkey teaching and research facility, receiving commitments of more than $2 million in private donations for the new construction, according to university officials.

“This tremendous new turkey research, teaching and extension facility, with support from industry partners and private donors, will ensure we are providing the best hands-on education for students, and the infrastructure to drive new scientific discoveries across the turkey industry,” said Dan Thomson, DVM, who chairs Iowa State University’s animal science department. 

“Adding this to our recently opened Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm will complete our cutting-edge facilities to write the next great chapter of Iowa State poultry science history,” he added.

The new facility plans to be a hands-on learning facility for modern production practices, flexible space, and state-of-the-art equipment for research, according to university officials. 

The new facility also plans to have outreach, continuing education, peer-to-peer opportunities for professionals in the industry and observation areas where visitors can view examples of turkey production systems, making it the only, one-of-its-kind facility focused on turkey production at a major university, university officials said.

A lead gift was provided by Jim and Julie Balloun of Atlanta, Ga. Jim received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State, and is the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Acuity Brands Inc., a lighting and building management firm headquartered in Atlanta. His father, Stanley L. Balloun, served as an Iowa State University professor in animal science, and was an international expert and leader in the science of turkey feed.

In addition, West Liberty Foods, headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa, and the Iowa Turkey Federation, headquartered in Ames, also made donations.

“Iowa’s turkey farmers have a continuous desire to learn new information on how to better care for their turkeys, and the environment,” said Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation. 

“We are delighted to partner with Iowa State on an exceptional new facility that will serve its excellent faculty and students, and help provide industry and farmers with the resources and information they need to move in the right direction with their operations.”

According to Iowa State University, Iowa’s turkey industry is one of the largest in the United States, ranking seventh in turkey production, raising approximately 12 million turkeys annually.

In fact, for the first time, Iowa State University served as the home of the official National Thanksgiving Turkey at the 2020 National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation when President Donald Trump was in the White House. 

Moreover, Iowa’s turkey industry supports over 38,000 jobs, and is responsible for more than $10 billion annually in economic activity throughout Iowa.

Irwin said the new facility was an industry-lead project, with members of the Iowa Turkey Federation expressing “the need for turkey research, and the lack of facilities in the U.S., and globally to do turkey trials and research.” 

“The (federation) approached Iowa State University, (which) is the right partner,” she said. “They have an exceptional team of staff to conduct a variety of turkey research – from hatchery, growing to processing, and segments of turkey production such as manure utilization.  

“The existing facilities for turkey research are over 50 years old, so it is definitely time to update them to today’s production standards,” she added. “The (federation) formed the (Iowa State University) Turkey Research Barn committee to work with the university. Brad Moline from Manson, and Ron Kardel from Walcott co-chair the committee.”

Irwin and the committee worked with Iowa State University leadership to fundraise the money for the barn, and provide contacts for donations. 

“The committee also provides technical advice and oversight of the construction,” she said. “The vision for the project is to ‘operate a premier turkey program that supports education, research and training,’” she said.

Richard Gates, Iowa State University professor and acting chair of animal science, and the director of the Egg Industry Center, said, “Iowa turkey farmers and their state organization, the Iowa Turkey Federation, pushed forward this idea several years ago.” 

“These farmers wanted to see Iowa-specific research for their unique production needs, and they strongly promoted that this be done with Iowa State University,” he said. “Their leadership and vision resulted in substantial donations by Iowa farmers to fund the design and construction of this wonderful facility. 

“In addition, they had the clear and far-sighted vision to continue developing a fund for directed research on turkey production,” he said. “We at Iowa State are very lucky, and honored to have such strong and committed farmer support.”

Gates added, “Our caring and excellent faculty and staff, and top-notch facilities earn us a place among the best in the world.” 

“Just recently, our agricultural programs were again named to the top 4 percent worldwide, according to Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings,” he said. “This is our eighth year among the top 4 percent. (We ranked 14 among 401 institutions worldwide.)”

He said the new turkey teaching and research facility will not only help Iowa State University attract the best and brightest students, but also world-class faculty driven to discover the next great advancement in turkey production. 

“The impact of this facility extends far beyond poultry science,” he said. “Students and researchers across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine will use this facility to gain hands-on experience, and complete innovative research studies in the areas of ventilation, genetics, nutrition, veterinary medicine, and water quality, to name a few.”

He said the new facility is officially under construction, with completion anticipated by the end of this year.