You’re standing in front of the Food Sciences Building, a spot where science, art, and a dash of dairy drama come together. Now, if you ever wanted to see a place where butter and history mix, you’re in the right place! Originally known as the Dairy Industry Building, this sturdy two-story landmark has been here since 1928, built with Bedford stone by proud Iowans and designed by a team with the most architectural names ever: Proudfoot, Rawson & Souers. Over the years, wings and additions sprouted up in 1962, 1991, and 1993 - a little like adding extra scoops to your ice cream sundae.
But let’s churn back in time to the 1930s, a tough era when art was as scarce as nonfat frozen yogurt. Here’s where things get really interesting. Inside and in the courtyard, you’ll find sculptures by Christian Petersen, a Danish immigrant who basically became Iowa State’s artistic superhero - and not just because he sculpted cows that would never moo at night. Thanks to a government program called the Public Works of Art Project, Petersen carved out nine bas relief panels between 1934 and 1935 - rare pieces for a Midwest campus, since most of these federally funded artworks were plunked in big coastal cities.
There’s real storytelling in these panels. Just inside, you’ll spot women from different eras-one in biblical times, churning butter with a goatskin bag hanging from a tree (talk about CrossFit for the ancient world) and another pioneer woman working with an early American dash churn. In the courtyard, you’ll find a cow-centric centerpiece: three Jersey cows and a bull watch over a little fountain and reflecting pool. Look left, and you’ll see scenes of old-fashioned, hand-milking, wagon-loads of milk, churning, and cheese making. To the right, the wonders of the 1930s dairy plant roll out like an udderly impressive parade: mechanical milkers, the mighty "Babcock" tester, and even power centrifugal separators, up-to-date for their time.
Professor Martin Mortensen helped Petersen get the tech details just right, and another campus mastermind, Professor Maurice Hanson, added gravel walkways and lush plantings to the courtyard-because let’s face it, even cows deserve a nice landscape. All this was overseen in Iowa by the famous painter Grant Wood-yes, the guy with the pitchfork.
Who knew science, art, and a herd of cows could give us such a rich slice of Iowa State history? And if you listen closely, you just might hear a faint “moo” echoing through the ages. Don’t worry, it’s just the art. Or is it?
