June 23, 2020
A program concept and farm that were developed by Dr. William Murray, a professor of agricultural economics at ISU, in 1938 was mentioned in a June 23 The Monitor Online story, "On-the-farm training: Gaining the knowledge, and confidence, to enter agriculture."
Murray taught the program’s first class in 1943, and AG 450 has remained a successful program at the university ever since. Mickelsen’s model for his DCC ambition is the Ag 450 Farm program at his alma mater, Iowa State University. ISU’s Ag 450 program is a senior level capstone course that teaches students management and life skills on a working farm owned by the school.