Progress Agriculture 2023

Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility

Advancing Iowa's turkey industry; New innovative facility is the only one in US dedicated strictly to turkeys

AMES -- The only teaching and research facility in the nation dedicated solely to turkeys that's located at a major university happens to sit in Ames.

On May 9, Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dedicated the new Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility, which is designed to provide students with a living classroom so they can experience hands-on learning in modern production practices and utilize state-of-the-art equipment for research that addresses current challenges and helps advance Iowa's turkey industry.

Tanner Volkmann, manager of the turkey facility, told Farm News that as well known as Iowa State is in the world for not just agriculture but turkey production, it only makes sense to have the innovative facility in Ames.

"Iowa State doesn't have a very big poultry footprint in the curriculum, and this facility will help engage students and grow their interest," Volkmann said. "What makes this facility so special is the variety of support we have from processing companies to private funding and from the industry as well."

Iowa ranks seventh in the country for turkey production with approximately 12 million raised annually in the state.

The United States boasts 50 percent of the global turkey production. There are also two facilities in Iowa that process more than 15.5 million turkeys annually, which ranks Iowa sixth in the U.S. for turkey processing.

Located south of the Iowa State campus next to the Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Farm on 520th Avenue in Ames, the facility offers continuing education, outreach, peer-to-peer opportunities for professionals in the industry and observation areas where visitors, including school kids, can see first-hand examples of turkey production systems and learn about turkey production.

"We are so excited to see this cutting-edge facility come to fruition and strengthen the innovative teaching, research and learning our faculty, staff and students do in the area of turkey science and management in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences," said Daniel J. Robison, holder of the endowed dean's chair with Iowa State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "The hands-on experience our students will gain from working and learning in this modern facility will prepare them to become the next generation of great employees and leaders in turkey industry and science."

In November 2022, a flock of 1,800 poults or young turkeys moved into the facility. They're a commercial broad-breasted white breed and will allow Iowa State students to engage in research about them and carry out independent study projects. Students also will learn about turkeys during class lectures.

"We're excited the poults have arrived and are looking forward to the educational opportunities this state-of-the-art facility and the birds will provide our students," Dawn Koltes, ISU assistant professor of animal science, added.

Volkmann said the facility has two brooder rooms that hold 900 head each. The poults are the same age, but separated into the two rooms for research purposes.

"We are able to study environmental angles and compare the two groups," he said.

Jason Ross, professor and chair of Iowa State's Department of Animal Science, said that the opening of the farm represents several years of visioning, planning, hard work and synergy between Iowa State University and Iowa's turkey farmers.

"The teaching and research capabilities of this farm are unlike anywhere else in the U.S., and our faculty and staff look forward to training the future leaders of the industry and driving innovative solutions for America's turkey farmers," Ross said.

Andrew Christensen, a junior in general pre-veterinary medicine, helped with some of the building process at the farm, as well as the arrival of the poults.

"Working at the new Iowa State turkey farm has provided me a window into the turkey production industry and will do the same for many others for years to come," Christensen said.

"This facility represents a step forward, not just for our education, but also for the industry as a whole as it will provide valuable research to improve production."

Volkmann said the students so far appreciate the facility and have enjoyed seeing the poults.

"I don't think any of them have had turkey experience. Some have experience with chickens and boilers, so this is a change of pace for them and definitely an aspect of production they haven't experienced before," he said.

Research conducted at the facility will address current challenges facing Iowa's turkey industry and will aim to advance this industry that provides more than $10 billion annually in economic activity throughout the state. The facility also will offer continuing education and outreach programs for industry professionals in the future, as well as establish an observation area where visitors can see examples of turkey production systems.

"The turkey industry applauds the launching of this facility. 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 expect to do research on a variety of topics -- feed, nutrition, equipment, ventilation, turkey wellbeing and manure -- and explore a wide range of new technology. Iowa State University's exceptional faculty, students and the new facility will provide farmers with the information they need to make improvements."

Funding for the facility came from industry partners and private donors.

Jim and Julie Balloun of Atlanta, Georgia, provided the lead gift. Jim is the son of Stanley L. Balloun, a former Iowa State animal science professor who was an international expert, researcher and leader in the science of turkey feed; he also was an animal science professor at ISU. Both Ballouns are Iowa State alumni.