Farms, Research Centers and Other Parcels of Land Named for People

For Whom it is Named

By David Craft (1983 Edition) and Steve Jones (1989 Edition) University Relations University Archives (2003 Edition)

Owned by the state:

Allee Research Center: George M. Allees, a pioneer corn breeder from rural Newell, gave 160 acres in Buena Vista County to the Experiment Station in 1958 for agricultural research purposes.

Baird-Wessman Farm: John Wessman and Mrs. John Baird Wessman gave this 231 acre Jasper County farm to ISU.

Bates Farm: The Bates family was the last owner of this 72 acre Story County property.

Bilsland Memorial Farm: Benjamin F. Bilsland and Glady P. Bilsland gave this 256 acre farm in Boone County to ISU in 1959.

Brayton Memorial Forest: Emma L. Brayton of Delhi bequeathed 310 acres of Delaware County native timber to Iowa State in 1949 for forestry research.

Burkey Farm: Greta Burkey sold this 154 acre Boone County farm in 1973 to the Iowa Crops and Soils Research Association, which deeded the land to ISU in 1984.

Coles Farm: Jessie Coles gave 285 acres of Hamilton County farmland to ISU in 1974.

Curtiss Farm: This 141 acre farm in Story County is named for C.F. Curtiss, dean of agriculture at ISU, 1900-1933. Curtiss Hall and Curtiss Avenue (Ames) are also named in his honor.

Finch Farm: Edwin Finch was the previous owner of this 70 acre farm in Story County.

Hunds Research Plot: This 50 acre farm was purchased from Leonard and Florence Felber in 1974 and named after an estate left by a man named Hinds [first name not found].

Littlefield Nature Area: This 31 acre piece of Story County land was named for an individual named Littlefield [first name not found], who left property to ISU for wildlife study.

MacDonald Woods: This 5.6 acre parcel of Story County land was donated to Iowa State in 1954 by alumni of the forestry department in memory of the former head of the department, Gilmour B. MacDonald, who was on the faculty, 1910-1948. Macdonald House in South Helser Hall was also named in his honor.

McNay Memorial Research Center: Harry McNay and his sister, Winnie, of rural Chariton, deeded in 1956 the original 480 acre tract in Lucas County for use as a research center. The center now totals more than 2,000 acres.

Pammel Woods: The wooded parcel of land in the northwest part of campus was originally called College Park before being named Pammel Park in 1939. Now referred to as Pammel Woods, it is named for Louis H. Pammel, a botanist and botany department head who served Iowa State, 1889-1931. Pammel Court, Pammel Drive and Pammel State Park in Madison were all named in his honor.

Woodruff Farm: This 170 acre farm in Story County was purchased from the estate of an individual named Woodruff [first name not found].

Owned by Iowa State Affiliated Organizations:

Accola Farm: This 80 acre farm in Story County was acquired by trade by Lowell Accola in 1967.

Been Farm: Hilda Johnson Been sold this 160 acre farm in Story County to ISU in 1964.

Bennett Farm: This 160 acre Story County farm was purchased from Dr. C.H. Bennett in 1965.

Boyd Farm: This 76 acre farm in Boone County was purchased from the Carl T. Boyd estate in 1976.

Bruner Farm: This 160 acre Boone County farm was purchased from Marie and Harold Bruner in 1969.

Crossley Farm: This 54 acre farm in Story County was purchased from Olive Crossley in 1971.

Haas Memorial Farm: The Franz Haas estate gave this 160 acre farm in Pottawattamie County to the Committee for Ag Development.

Iden Farm: This 122 acre Story County farm was purchased from J. Clarence and Barbara Iden in 1970.

Johannes Farm: This 110 acre farm in Story County was purchased from the Johannes family in 1965.

Johnson Farm: Hilda Johnson Been sold this 148 acre farm in Story County to ISU in 1965.

Kelley Farm: This 200 acre farm in Boone County was purchased from Phillip and Ellen Kelley in 1965.

Lippert Farm: Linda Lippert sold this 213 acre Boone County farm to the Committee for Ag Development in 1969.

Milliken Farm: This 40 acre farm in Story County was acquired by trade in 1965. It is not known for whom it is named.

Pollock Farm: This 30 acre Keokuk County farm was purchased from the Roscoe C. Pollack family in 1970.

Ross Farm: This 160 acre farm in Story County was purchased from the Agnes E. Ross estate in 1978.

M. Ross Farm: M.E. Ross was a former owner of this 62 acre farm in Story County.

Sundberg Farm: This 80 acre Boone County farm was purchased in 1986 from the C. Milton Sundberg Trust.


This is a historic exhibit and the information provided within it may be out of date. Please contact the Special Collections and University Archives Department with questions about Iowa State history (archives@iastate.edu).