Features

Founded in a region of the United States with, arguably, the richest soil on the planet, a young Ames-based startup is aiming to revolutionize farming- without any of that soil. Employing a combination of high pressure aeroponics and artificial intelligence (AI), Nebullam is making waves in an increasingly competitive indorrfarming industry.

Founded as a small, family-owned livestock feed operation in Indianola more than nine decades ago, it has grown to become one of the largest feed producers in the world. From feed and related products for commercial livestock and domesticated animals—including fish, birds, and rodents—to feeds specifically for show animals, commodities, and products for human consumption, the Kent brand is international.

From the time he was a little boy helping on the family farm east of Des Moines, Kevin Maher had a penchant for dreaming big. As he watched airplanes fly overhead, going from one coast to the other, he imagined himself someday sitting on those flights, winging his way from one big deal to the next.

As secondary education has evolved over the decades, a greater emphasis has been placed on providing students options for practical experiences, outside the classroom setting. Seizing on this trend, Ames High School, the Iowa State University Research Park and the Ames Chamber of Commerce came together to develop a unique program to give students an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with businesses throughout the community.

Collins Aerospace, an international leader in the development and deployment of aviation technology around the world, has long been a close partner of Iowa State University. Headquartered in the Eastern Iowa city of Cedar Rapids, the company employs more than 1,200 Iowa State alumni in offices spread across the United States and in internationally in Australia, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia.

For more than three decades, Calcium Products has been perfecting the process of enriching soil to help ensure the seeds farmers put in the ground have the best chance to offer a big yield.