Timeline of Events in SROC History

1911 

Black and white photo of the original SROC homestead

Minnesota Legislature appropriated funds to establish two demonstration farms where local problems could be explored by Department of Agriculture personnel.

1912

Black and white photo of Albert Hoversten standing in a wheat field

A committee representing the state, the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and the Department of Agriculture selected and purchased 246 acres just west and south of Waseca naming it the Southeast Demonstration Farm and Experiment Station of the University of Minnesota. The land was purchased from R. P. and D. Ward at $125/acre.

1913

First year of operations at the Southeast Demonstration Farm and Experiment Station. Albert Hoversten employed as "Farm Manager" and served as first Superintendent of Station, 1913-1918.

1919

Black and white photo of RA Hodgson

R.E. Hodgson appointed Superintendent. Served 1919-1960.

1925

Black and white photo of several men sitting in the back of and standing by a Southeast Experiment Station truck

Name changed from "Southeast Demonstration Farm and Experiment Station" to "Southeast Experiment Station".

1940

Station size increased by purchase of 351 acres of land purchased from D., E., & V. Ward for $40,000.

1950-1971

Black and white photo of two men standing next to a large sign showing the borders of the SROC land

Purchased additional 20.75 acres of miscellaneous land from E. & V. Ward and W. & R. Papke and E. F. and Ethel Johnson.

1953

Black and white aerial photo of the U of M Waseca campus

Southern School of Agriculture enrolled first class in January 1953.

1960

Deane Turner sitting at a table while another man fills out a form

Dr. Deane A. Turner appointed Superintendent of the Southern School and Experiment Station. Served 1960 through 1963.

1964

Edward C Fredeick speaks into a microphone in front of a small group of people

Dr. Edward C. Frederick appointed Superintendent of the Southern School and Experiment Station. Served 1964-70.

1969

Legislative action called for phase-out of the Southern School of Agriculture and for creation of a technical college. The new college and the Southern Experiment Station were established as separate administrative units.

1970

Richard Anderson

Richard H. Anderson appointed Superintendent of the Southern Experiment Station. Served 1970-90.

1972

Purchase of 232 acres of land from K. & J. Priebe, at a cost of $145,000, brought the total University land holdings at Waseca to approximately 850 acres.

1982

An Advisory Committee was commissioned with 15 charter members to "advise the SES on research and related agricultural or other needs".

1990

David Walgenbach

Dr. David D. Walgenbach appointed Superintendent of the Southern Experiment Station. Served 1990-2000.

1994

A small group of people standing next to a drainage ditch

Purchased 120 acres of land from K. & J. Stendel, at a cost of $162,000 and an additional 80 acres from K. & M. Krassin, at a cost of $108,000. Property named the Agricultural Ecology Research Farm (AERF).

1994-1995

Relinquished 95 acres of University land to Federal Correctional Institution, reducing land holdings to approximately 955 acres.

1999

Name of Southern Experiment Station changed to Southern Research and Outreach Center.

2001

Forrest Izuno

Dr. Forrest T. Izuno appointed Head of the Southern Research and Outreach Center

2008

Roughly 29 acres sold to Minnesota Department of Transportation as right-of-way for Highway 14 bypass, reducing total land holdings to approximately 926 acres.

Southern Research and Outreach Center sign