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Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center
The Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center (TPAC) includes over 1,000
managed acres in Southern Tippecanoe County. The original farm near
US 231 was given to Purdue by Dr. George Throckmorton in 1935 in memory
of his father. Research at Throckmorton involves agronomic studies in corn,
soybeans, wheat, and canola. Fertility, yield, and pesticide testing
are just a few of the studies conducted with crops at Throckmorton.
In 1997, TPAC staff began managing the OíNeall Memorial Farm and started
the process of moving horticultural and specialty crop research to the
newly acquired Meigís Farm located near Throckmorton. This new location
was put into a trust by Samual G. Meigs to be utilized by Purdue.
At this location, vegetable, tree/vine, and specialty crop research is
undertaken that provides researchers with both drip and overhead irrigation
and has been extensively tiled for optimum drainage. Work in weed
control, yield and quality enhancement, and alternative crop development
are just a few of the areas explored with crops at this location.
In addition, tree and vine research currently performed at the Hort Farm,
located west of Purdue University, will be transferred to the Meigís location
in the next few years.
Did you know?
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In the late 1830's and early 1840's Thomas Smiley built a house and a very
large barn, which he painted yellow--the "Yaller Barn," as it became known.
Stage drivers stopped there to change coach horses. Emigrants, drovers,
and other travelers stopped to buy food for themselves and their livestock.
Farmers taking wheat to Chicago stopped for the night, as did stockmen
driving cattle to eastern markets and forty-niners on their way to find
gold in the west. The landmark was so well known in parts of Ohio that
people planning to move to Indiana were asked where their new home was
situated relative to the Yaller Barn. Novelist George Barr McCutcheon,
whose grandfather bought the barn and adjoining land in later years, said
he "was born in the shadow of the old barn, so to speak." Cartoonist John
T. McCutcheon was born in the house across the road. The barn was moved
in the early 1880s and later sold to Dr. George K. Throckmorton, who donated
the land and barn to Purdue University. Although no longer yellow, the
barn still stands on Throckmorton-PAC.
For more information about the Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center,
contact:
Jerry Fankhauser
Superintendent
8343 US 231 South
Lafayette IN 47909-9049
Voice: 765-538-3422
FAX: 765-538-3423
Email: jjf@aes.purdue.edu
Directions
to the Throckmorton-Purdue Agricultural Center
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