The Swine Teaching Farm at Iowa State University (ISU) has been renamed for Allen Christian, who managed the farm for more than 50 years.
The renaming was announced Oct. 22 at an annual gathering of the Department of Animal Science. Christian joined Iowa State in 1959 as swine herdsman at the farm and retired in 2010.
“During that time, he had a significant impact on students as well as those who worked for him at the farm. They not only learned how to take care of pigs, but also learned about life from Al,” says Maynard Hogberg, chairman of the animal science department.
“He had an intense interest in students and worked with them to help make them successful. He was one of our best recruiters as he traveled the state and nation judging swine shows. He would always try to recruit students to Iowa State. Once they came to ISU, he took them under his wing and helped them to grow and mature into responsible adults,” Hogberg says.
Christian also has been an asset to the nation’s swine industry. His numerous awards include: Superior Service Award from the American Berkshire Association, National Pork Board Distinguished Service Award and Master Pork Industry Visionary from National Hog Farmer magazine.
Located south of Ames, the swine teaching farm is an educational laboratory that gives hundreds of animal science students first-hand experience studying and working with pigs. It provides pigs for classes on livestock judging, meats, physiology and other subjects, and is the site for adult education and outreach programs.