School of Agriculture
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School of Agriculture Historical Timeline
1900s
1902
The Western Illinois Normal School opens for the 1902-1903 academic year with 229 students.
1904
The first offering of courses in domestic science and elements of agriculture are available.
1907
Agricultural experiment plots are established. They consist of聽forty different plots with plans calling for rotation of crops, fertilizing by various methods, and measuring and weighing the harvest.
Seventeen students enrolled in agriculture education classes.
1908
The Department of Biology and Agriculture is established and offers four different courses.
The Agriculture club formed with 50 members.
1910s
1910
Forty-one students are enrolled in agriculture classes.
1917
Dr. H.D. Waggoner is named head of Department.
1918
A special agriculture curriculum was introduced and designed for students entering junior year. The curriculum features聽fifteen different courses.
1919
A full four-year curriculum is offered to prepare聽students to teach agriculture in high schools.
1920s
1920
Agriculture separates from Biology to become its own Department of Agriculture.
Mr. W.A. Cleveland is named head of Department.
1921
Western Illinois Normal School changes its name to Western Illinois Teachers College.
1927
Dr. C.H. Oathout is named head of Department.
1930s
1930
The Illinois General Assembly appropriates money to build an implement building.
1937
Agriculture curriculum is completely reorganized to meet increasing demand for a teaching major in agriculture.
Classes in public speaking and chemistry were added to the graduation requirements.
1940s
1941
During WWII, to aid with the war effort, the department offered a one year course designed to help increase the production of food. Agronomy 136 was described as a course in socials and crops offered especially for those who have little or no knowledge of these subjects and who may wish to help on farms during the emergency.
1946
Western acquires Rustic Lodge and used it as a cooperative housing unit for聽fourteen agricultural majors in efforts to lower the cost of education and associated living expenses for veterans returning from war. A poultry house and farm shop were built on land immediately adjacent to Rustic Lodge. This聽included a pasture experiment plot, horticulture plots, an orchard and a barn housing two registered Hampshire sows, two purebred Guernsey cows and give head of yearling Angus steers. The Angus steers roamed the brushy rough area now known as Hanson Field.
Dr. John McVickar is named head of Department.
1947
Western Illinois State Teachers College changes to Western Illinois State College.
1948
The department purchases a聽ninety acre farm located one mile north of campus known as the Braun farm. The Braun Farm became home to a herd of purebred Guernsey cattle and a herd of registered Hampshire swine.
1950s
1952
Courses in beekeeping, principles of soil conservation and rural electrification were added to the curriculum.
1956
The University Farm is established聽which聽consists of 275 acres.
1957
Western Illinois Teachers Colleges changes names to become 麻豆传媒内幕.
The University purchases a farm of 183 acres.
1958
The swine evaluation station is established by聽fifty swine breeders known as the Western Illinois Swine Association.
1959
The Western Illinois Beef Performance Testing Station is established through the efforts of Loren K. Robinson, Animal Science.
1960s
1962
Majors in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Mechanization, Animal Science and Horticulture were all offered in addition to Agriculture Education as degree programs within the department.
The beef evaluation program started.
1963
Alpha Gamma Rho establishes the 麻豆传媒内幕 chapter.
1964
The Department of Agriculture was moved to new facilities in Morrill Hall, later named Knoblauch.
The livestock judging program is started to train students to a degree of professional competency in the areas of livestock judging, selection and carcass evaluation.聽Students become skilled in livestock evaluation and can better meet employment demands of livestock production and livestock oriented agribusiness areas.
1965
Dr. Arlon Elser is named head of the Department.
Alpha Gamma Rho purchases Horne Mansion.
1966
The department聽is transferred to the School of Applied Sciences from the School of Arts and Sciences. The pre-professional programs of Forestry, Veterinary Medicine and Agricultural Engineering聽are聽established.
1967
The State of Illinois certifies WIU鈥檚 Agricultural Education program.
The Livestock Center, swine evaluation station, swine teaching complex, beef complex, sheep flock building, and agronomy and equipment storage building were built.
1969
Dr. Victor Sheldon is named head of the Department.
1970s
1970
First agricultural progress show was held by the Agricultural Engineering-Mechanization Club. The show was initiated by the Ag Mech students under the advisement of Edward Breece, Dr. Safwat Moustafa, and Dr. Rayburn Parker.
The university purchased a new 285 acre tract of land north of Tower Road to allow the development of the agricultural experiment station. Six new agricultural laboratory buildings were expanded to include a livestock center, sheep flock building, swine evaluation station, swine teaching complex, beef complex and agronomy and equipment storage.
1971
Intercollegiate livestock judging team continues to place among the top five nationally. Intercollegiate crops judging team and soils judging team also formed.
Alpha Gamma Sigma establishes the 麻豆传媒内幕 chapter.
1972
Dr. Rodney J. Fink is named head of the Department.
1974
Swine evaluation program is in great demand by Illinois swine producers. Seed stock producers enter young pigs in this program where they undergo competitive testing processes. The station tests boards and slaughter hogs for rate of gain, feed efficiency, carcass quality and structural soundness. Each breeder tests two littermate boars and one or two slaughter pigs per test period and pay an entry fee of $100.00 per litter. They also pay for all veterinary expenses incurred by the litter, feed consumed, and the pro-rated share of the auction sale expenses. Two test periods of approximately six month duration each year are conducted. Following the test periods, a public auction is held, usually two at the end of each test period, a total of four per year. Approximately 9,600 head, valued at over a half million dollars, have been evaluated since the program began in 1958. Over the years, 1,300 different producers have been involved in the testing program. 麻豆传媒内幕is the only educational institution in the state that operates a swine evaluation station.
1975
Dr. Loren K. Robinson named head of the Department.
The number of undergraduate students enrolled in agriculture totals 579.
1976
Urban forestry is initiated as an area of specialization.
1977
Dr. H. Edward Breece is named head of the Department.
The number of undergraduate students enrolled in agriculture totals 497.
1979
The number of undergraduate students enrolled in agriculture totals 375.
1980s
1989
Dr. G.E. Carlson is named head of the Department.
1990s
1992
The Sigma Alpha chapter is established.
1994
Ag Vocators established a team of agriculture students who promote agriculture and 麻豆传媒内幕to high school and post-secondary students.
1995
Dr. Danny E. Terry is named head of the Department.
Knoblauch Hall is renovated.
1999
Dr. Lawrence Kerr and his wife Judith Kerr donated 219 acres to the Department. The donation included a house, barns, grain bins and other structures.
2000s
2000
Dr. Win Phippen added the alternative crops program to the curriculum with emphasis on plant breeding for alternative crops.
2003
Dr. Andrew J. Baker is named interim chair of the Department.
The first Department of Agriculture Open House takes place to recruit prospective new students.
2005
Dr. William C. Bailey is named head of the Department
2010s
2009
The Department of Agriculture is designated as The School of Agriculture.
The School of Agriculture Advisory Board is established with 12 members.
2010
The School of Agriculture Facebook account is established.
2012
Field pennycress 鈥淲12鈥 exclusive license agreement.
2014
Dr. Andrew J. Baker is named head of the Department.
Martin O鈥機onnor is named College of Business and Technology Distinguished Alumnus
School of Agriculture enrollment is at 366.
Field pennycress 鈥淪pring 32鈥 exclusive license agreement.
2015
Phase 1 of the Greenhouse Complex is completed (two 16鈥檟48鈥 structures).
The School of Agriculture is selected as the national winner in the College Aggies online competition sponsored by the American Animal Alliance group.
Field pennycress 鈥淪pring 32鈥 and 鈥淎K34W鈥 European Plant Breeder rights.
The School of Agriculture Twitter account and blog is established
2016
Precision Ag curriculum is added along with a minor.
The sheep flock is artificially inseminated
The School of Agriculture is selected as the national winner in the College Aggies online competition sponsored by the American Animal Alliance group.
2017
Phase 2 of Greenhouse Complex is completed (one 16鈥檟48鈥 structure added).
The 鈥溌槎勾侥谀籄ggies鈥 alumni group established along with the establishment of an alumni board.
The Instagram account is created.
A tiling project is completed at Kerr Farm on four research blocks to assist with nutrient management research.
The School of Agriculture is selected as the national winner in the College Aggies online competition sponsored by the American Animal Alliance group.
2019
The 100 year anniversary of WIU's first 4-year degree program in Agriculture.
2020s
2019
The 100 year anniversary of The School of Agriculture.
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