Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to speak at Dordt

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will speak at Dordt University’s Agriculture Stewardship Center on Saturday, October 29 at 11 a.m. He will present as part of the dedication of three buildings that were recently constructed at the Agriculture Stewardship Center.

The public is invited to attend the dedication. Tours of the new facilities will also be provided.

Naig was elected as the 15th Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in November 2018 and previously served as the Deputy Secretary at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. As Secretary of Agriculture, Naig seeks to expand markets and trades, focus on water quality and land stewardship, and promote careers in agriculture.

Three buildings will be dedicated at the event: the monoslope building, the greenhouse, and the commodity storage building. The new monoslope building gives students a large lab space to work with live animals such as beef cows, calves, and dairy heifers. The three-season greenhouse will allow agriculture students and faculty to start planting from seed early in the spring and maintain the plants through late fall. The commodity storage building is used to store feed for the animals.

Abby Kraemer, an agriculture major, will talk briefly at the dedication about why a Christian worldview on agriculture is vital. Dordt agriculture faculty will also share about the impact that the new facilities will have on Dordt’s agriculture program.

Dr. Holly De Vries, assistant professor of agriculture, says the monoslope building will help students to gain important work experiences while in college.

“It not only provides extensive hands-on work opportunities, but also bolsters interdisciplinary and professional connections,” says De Vries. “Students will get to work alongside nutritionists, breeding companies, veterinarians, and other professionals to formulate and apply a care plan for the animals.”

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. For six years in a row, Dordt has been named number one in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.