How Iowa State University Began: The 1856 Origins of America’s First Agricultural College

A National Moment in Agricultural Advancement

In the mid-1800s, agriculture was the driving force of American life, shaping communities, economies, and national expansion. Recognizing the importance of strengthening agricultural knowledge and innovation, the Iowa General Assembly made a landmark decision in 1856: it enacted legislation to create the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. This initiative marked one of the earliest state-supported efforts to formalize agricultural education in the United States.

Official Establishment and Strategic Planning

Although the legislative foundation was laid in 1856, the college did not become official until March 1858. This formal establishment signified Iowa’s commitment to developing a world-class institution devoted to agricultural science, research, and hands-on learning—an ambitious vision for its time.

A critical next step was determining where this new college would live. In June 1859, state leaders selected Story County—specifically the growing community of Ames—as the college’s permanent home. The combination of fertile land, central geography, and community support made the area an ideal location for a model agricultural institution.

A 648-Acre Beginning That Shaped a Legacy

At its inception, the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm acquired 648 acres of land. This significant parcel, purchased for a total of $5,380, served as both a campus and a working farm. The Model Farm concept underscored the college’s mission: to teach agriculture through real-world application, experimentation, and innovation.

This acreage became the foundation for a university that would grow into one of the nation’s leaders in agricultural research, engineering, and scientific discovery.

From Model Farm to Modern Institution

Today, the Iowa Agricultural College is known as Iowa State University—an internationally respected institution whose influence reaches far beyond its Iowa roots. Its work in agricultural science, extension education, and innovation continues to impact farmers, researchers, and communities across the country.

As Mark Oppold highlights in his American Agriculture History Minute, the creation of this institution was not merely a historical footnote—it was a transformative moment in the evolution of American agricultural education.