Last Friday, Iowa State University celebrated the dedication of the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center, a state-of-the-art facility that creates an unmatched learning environment for students pursuing careers in agriculture and related fields.

Made possible by private gifts from nearly 1,200 alumni, friends and supporters, the Hansen Center has fast become one of the jewels of the student experience for thousands of Iowa Staters.

The multipurpose facility includes an arena seating 1,000 people and has four heavily scheduled classrooms. For students in animal science and other agricultural programs, the Hansen Center is a valuable resource for sharpening their skills working with, caring for and learning about animals.

Even though it's been open only since January, the Hansen Center has already been abuzz with classes, seminars, student groups and public events. It has hosted an international beef cattle symposium, a statewide gathering of high school FFA student leaders, a centennial celebration for an Iowa State agricultural fraternity, and competitions in the annual Iowa Games.

Every season of the year, the Hansen Center will be a focal point for students and education, both inside and outside the classroom. It is a versatile venue for showcasing animal agriculture as well as many other disciplines and student activities.

Did You Know? This fall, Iowa State animal science professor Curt Youngs will receive a national honor in the USDA Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in Teaching Awards. Youngs will be the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' eighth award winner in the program since 2006.