Borlaug Learning Center open
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In 2007, his name joined the company of such people as Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Elie Wiesel and Nelson Mandela — all Congressional Gold Medal recipients.
He received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for work in developing wheat varieties that transformed grain production, and the 1979 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He founded the World Food Prize in 1986 for improving food quality, quantity and availability.
And now, Norman Borlaug, the father of the “Green Revolution,” will be recognized with the Borlaug Learning Center, a facility opening today, to enhance the learning experience at the northeast research farm in Nashua.
The 6,000 square-foot facility will include eight offices, a conference room, two meeting rooms, storage space, lab space, a computer room, restrooms and a kitchen. A display about Borlaug’s life created by current and former ISU students will also be located within the learning center.
“We’re very happy and excited that it’s opening,” said Mark Honeyman, professor of animal science and a coordinator of ISU research farms. “It really adds a whole other dimension to the research farm. So rather than just generate research, it adds the whole education and learning component for area youth, area businesses and farmers; it really kind of completes that presence.”
George Cummins, ISU extension field agronomist, said Borlaug, who grew up on a farm about 50 miles north of the facility’s Cresco site, permitted the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association to use his name in association with the building.
“I would feel honored if my name is used in connection with a facility whose purpose is to improve the agriculture in the area where I was fortunate to be born and grow up,” Borlaug wrote.
Cummins met Borlaug around 1987 when Cummins was on the board of Self-Help International, a non-government organization that provided appropriate mechanization for developing countries, in Waverly.
“Self-Help was contracted to provide two tractors and some implements ... and I was on the engineering committee and met with Dr. Borlaug at the Carter Center in Atlanta to discuss what he needed and how we could work with him,” Cummins said.
Since then, Cummins has visited Borlaug on several occasions.
“I’m an admirer of Norman Borlaug,” he said. “You have to have heroes and role models; he would certainly be one of them. He is a world-class scientist, he is an outstanding teacher, mentor, he’s a humanitarian, and I would call him an unofficial diplomat, ambassador.”
Kay Connelly, one of three co-chairs for the learning center’s funding committee, said $250,000 was raised before the ground breaking ceremony in September 2007.
“They were not going to break ground for the structure until they were certain we had enough funds so we could complete,” he said.
Connelly said $700,000 was raised for the project.
“There were a lot of good comments relative to Dr. Borlaug and naming the facility after him,” Connelly said. “The gentleman has an excellent reputation and has done a lot of good, so I think that helped.”
The site, which is owned by the association with research conducted by Iowa State, has a good name in the area, Connelly said.
Mary Schrandt-Prouty, northeast Iowa area extension director, said it’s “exciting” to see the facility come together.
“It’s a dynamic facility that with the Borlaug name, hopefully people will visit the center, learn more about Norman Borlaug, a little bit about the history of him and about how his whole life has really benefitted the world,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for people who may not even know he’s from northeast Iowa to be able to come and learn about some of the workings of Norman Borlaug.”
Borlaug Learning Center Medallion
Lois Warme, associate professor of art and design and extension specialist in the College of Design, with assistance from a Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association committee and a number of current and former design students developed the interior design, the exhibits and the special artwork for the Borlaug Learning Center.
Designed by Erin Brady and Christina Horn
Donor Wall: Stainless steel design by Dean Biechler with computer assistance from Christina Schwab, senior in interior design
Four benches: Designed and built by Chad Gleason and Ryan Seiler
Photographic display: Amanda Price, senior in interior design, and Erin Broadrick, sophomore in interior design, designed the display case; Tim Neal and staff at the Oak Tree in Plainfield built it. George Cummins, field specialist with ISU Extension, Dennis Carney, Amanda Riha, senior in interior design, and Schwab designed educational materials. Horn designed the stackable cubes for visitor seating; Broadrick designed and made pedestals and cubes for inside the display case.
Etched glass panel: Designed by Brady and Horn
Three wheat plaques in the conference room: Brady, Horn and Schwab developed the idea; Schwab created the three pieces.
— Information from Lois Warme
He received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for work in developing wheat varieties that transformed grain production, and the 1979 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He founded the World Food Prize in 1986 for improving food quality, quantity and availability.
And now, Norman Borlaug, the father of the “Green Revolution,” will be recognized with the Borlaug Learning Center, a facility opening today, to enhance the learning experience at the northeast research farm in Nashua.
The 6,000 square-foot facility will include eight offices, a conference room, two meeting rooms, storage space, lab space, a computer room, restrooms and a kitchen. A display about Borlaug’s life created by current and former ISU students will also be located within the learning center.
“We’re very happy and excited that it’s opening,” said Mark Honeyman, professor of animal science and a coordinator of ISU research farms. “It really adds a whole other dimension to the research farm. So rather than just generate research, it adds the whole education and learning component for area youth, area businesses and farmers; it really kind of completes that presence.”
George Cummins, ISU extension field agronomist, said Borlaug, who grew up on a farm about 50 miles north of the facility’s Cresco site, permitted the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association to use his name in association with the building.
“I would feel honored if my name is used in connection with a facility whose purpose is to improve the agriculture in the area where I was fortunate to be born and grow up,” Borlaug wrote.
Cummins met Borlaug around 1987 when Cummins was on the board of Self-Help International, a non-government organization that provided appropriate mechanization for developing countries, in Waverly.
“Self-Help was contracted to provide two tractors and some implements ... and I was on the engineering committee and met with Dr. Borlaug at the Carter Center in Atlanta to discuss what he needed and how we could work with him,” Cummins said.
Since then, Cummins has visited Borlaug on several occasions.
“I’m an admirer of Norman Borlaug,” he said. “You have to have heroes and role models; he would certainly be one of them. He is a world-class scientist, he is an outstanding teacher, mentor, he’s a humanitarian, and I would call him an unofficial diplomat, ambassador.”
Kay Connelly, one of three co-chairs for the learning center’s funding committee, said $250,000 was raised before the ground breaking ceremony in September 2007.
“They were not going to break ground for the structure until they were certain we had enough funds so we could complete,” he said.
Connelly said $700,000 was raised for the project.
“There were a lot of good comments relative to Dr. Borlaug and naming the facility after him,” Connelly said. “The gentleman has an excellent reputation and has done a lot of good, so I think that helped.”
The site, which is owned by the association with research conducted by Iowa State, has a good name in the area, Connelly said.
Mary Schrandt-Prouty, northeast Iowa area extension director, said it’s “exciting” to see the facility come together.
“It’s a dynamic facility that with the Borlaug name, hopefully people will visit the center, learn more about Norman Borlaug, a little bit about the history of him and about how his whole life has really benefitted the world,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for people who may not even know he’s from northeast Iowa to be able to come and learn about some of the workings of Norman Borlaug.”
Borlaug Learning Center Medallion
Lois Warme, associate professor of art and design and extension specialist in the College of Design, with assistance from a Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association committee and a number of current and former design students developed the interior design, the exhibits and the special artwork for the Borlaug Learning Center.
Designed by Erin Brady and Christina Horn
Donor Wall: Stainless steel design by Dean Biechler with computer assistance from Christina Schwab, senior in interior design
Four benches: Designed and built by Chad Gleason and Ryan Seiler
Photographic display: Amanda Price, senior in interior design, and Erin Broadrick, sophomore in interior design, designed the display case; Tim Neal and staff at the Oak Tree in Plainfield built it. George Cummins, field specialist with ISU Extension, Dennis Carney, Amanda Riha, senior in interior design, and Schwab designed educational materials. Horn designed the stackable cubes for visitor seating; Broadrick designed and made pedestals and cubes for inside the display case.
Etched glass panel: Designed by Brady and Horn
Three wheat plaques in the conference room: Brady, Horn and Schwab developed the idea; Schwab created the three pieces.
— Information from Lois Warme
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