Allee Demonstration Farm

Location

Newell, Buena Vista County

Directions: 1.5 miles west on the gravel road that intersects Highway 7 at the curve southeast of Newell

Allee Memorial Demonstration Farm
2030 640th Street
Newell, IA 50568

(712) 272-3512

click here for a map view

Size

160 acres

Owner

Iowa State University

The Allee mansion was built in 1891 by George M. Allee’s parents Jesse and Mary. The Queen Anne style features a turret with five unique fish-scale patterns, seven original stained glass windows, three sets of oak pocket doors, etched glass door windows, an open staircase and an ornate fireplace. In 1958, George Allee’s will transferred the farm and the mansion to ISU. In 1989, ISU leased the mansion to the Newell Historical Society for restoration. In 1992, the mansion was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. It is open for tours and community events.

History

The farm was started in 1958 when George M. Allee bequeathed 160 acres to ISU.

Soils

The terrain is nearly level to gently sloping and contains numerous depressions and low knobs. Predominant soils are:

Clarion:
2-5 percent slope, occurs on upland slopes, very well drained

Nicollet:
1-3 percent slope, occurs between uplands and low areas, poorly drained

Canisteo:
0-2 percent slope, poorly drained

Research and Demonstration

The farm is used for whole-farm agricultural demonstrations focused on modest-sized, sustainable, family-based farming. The farm is used to develop profitable farming systems for these farm units. All the farm’s enterprises incorporate whole-farm systems rather than studying individual components.

Innovative techniques are used for growing traditional crops and livestock. These techniques will be used to develop systems that complement the crop, livestock and management of modest-sized farms. The farm staff also is active with research projects in area farmers’ fields.

Facilities

The farm has outdoor and confinement cattle-feeding lots with a capacity of 250 head. The farm feeds cattle that are part of the university’s large beef cattle breeding project.