Northeast Purdue Agricultural Center (NEPAC)
Size and Topography
- Four parcels totaling about 472 acres, including 367 tillable acres in Whitley County between Fort Wayne and Columbia City
- Rolling and level topography typical of northeastern Indiana, unlike any other part of the state
- Soils are the Morley-Glynwood and the Morley-Rawson Associations, which consist of loam, sandy loam, and clay loam soils
Heritage
Established in 1991, NEPAC is the newest Purdue Agricultural Center. Recognizing the agricultural importance of the northeast part of the state, Purdue has acquired four tracts of land for a long-awaited research center. The first tract, given in trust by Denzil Schrader in 1989, is 160 acres and is called the Schrader Farm in his memory. When Denzil Schrader convinced his neighbor, Merle Kyler, of the need for such a center, Kyler also gave part of his land. The 85 acre Kyler Farm lies two miles to the west of the main headquarters. The third piece was a 185 acre farm one mile north of the Kyler Farm that Purdue purchased at public auction from the estate of Harvey Lawrence, a Whitley County farmer. The fourth and final parcel was then purchased in 2018 from the Myer family. This farm is located across the road from the Lawrence farm.
Contact Us
Jon Leuck
Director, Purdue Agricultural Centers, and Project Coordinator
615 Mitch Daniels Blvd.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Phone: 765-494-8368
Email: leuckj@purdue.edu
Alex Helms
Assistant Director, Purdue Agricultural Centers
615 Mitch Daniels Blvd.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Phone: 765-494-8367
Email: helms0@purdue.edu
Chris Lake
Northeast-Purdue Agricultural Center, Superintendent
4821 East 400 South
Columbia City, IN 46725
Phone: 260-244-7290title="Call: 260-244-7290"> (also fax)
Email: cclake@purdue.edu