Des Moines Central Campus Unveils New Barn for Agriculture Students

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 9, 2024) – Des Moines Independent Community School District unveiled its newly constructed barn for agriculture and horticulture students. The new barn will give Central Campus students the opportunity to gain real-world experience working in the agricultural industry.

"This state-of-the-art facility is more than just a building; it’s a testament to our commitment to supporting our farmers and rural communities. By bringing fertilizer production closer to home, we are eliminating costly links from the supply chain, and keeping the farmer at the center as we hit the ground running with this new fertilizer production and distribution center. We’re looking forward to bringing U.S. made, sustainable and fully customizable fertilizers to our farmers across the midwest,” said Matt Carstens, Landus President & CEO.

Features of the new site include:

• Freestanding building for chemical and seed storage, producing over 100,000 gallons of foliar SRN in the first operational year and 250,000 gallons in subsequent years.
• The manufacturing facility sits on 35.8 acres at 1095 T Ave, Boone, IA, adjacent to the current Landus 33-acre grain facility which provides grain and agronomy solutions.

The event featured four speakers and was moderated by Landus Senior Vice President of Communications & Marketing, Ryan Grant. The speakers were: Matt Carstens, Landus President & CEO; Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Administrator of USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service; Mark Reisinger, CEO of Agribusiness Association of Iowa; and Erich Kretzinger, Boone County Board of Supervisors Chairman.

“Investments like this multiply. This $4.9 million grant creates jobs and adds to the local economy. This project is a great example of the green energy economy and lowers costs for our producers,” said Betsy Dirksen Londrigan during her ribbon-cutting remarks.

Students and press gathered in the new barn to see the animal projects that students have been working on.

“Farming is one of the world’s oldest professions and remains one of, if not, the most critical industry in the world. This barn represents Landus’ commitment to ensuring the longevity and vitality of agriculture work by providing the next generation of farmers with the tools and experience needed to usher in the next era of farming. We’re proud to support Central Campus and its agricultural sciences program,” said Carstens.

Event attendees included Matt Smith, Des Moines Public School (DMPS) Associate Superintendent; DMPS Board Members; Dave Berger, DMPS Executive Director of Operations; Matt and Shanda Carstens; and students in the agricultural sciences program.

“The future agriculture leaders of Iowa will come from all backgrounds – urban populations included. This investment in the future of agriculture demonstrates Central Campus’ commitment to creating diverse opportunities for students and inspiring the next generation of leaders across all industries.”

The new barn will be open for all students in the metro area who choose the Central Campus Ag program. Landus and Central Campus are providing opportunities for all students to know that they belong in the ag field. Interested students may sign up now for the fall semester on the Central Campus website.

About Des Moines Independent Community School District

For over 100 years, Des Moines Public Schools has been educating the students of Iowa’s capital city. Today, we are the largest provider of public education in Iowa, with more than 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 teachers and staff at work in more than 60 schools throughout the community.

About Landus

Landus is a forward-thinking agriculture solutions company that keeps the farmer at the center. Landus connects thousands of farmer-owners with the world through grain, agronomy, and distribution, deploying traditional and nontraditional methods fueled by innovation and sustainability across 34 states and 16 countries. Landus is known for transforming the traditional cooperative model with its innovative approach to technology and strategic partnerships, identifying the challenges that farmers face today and developing data-backed individualized solutions that impact every part of the supply chain.