Statement of Significance (as of designation - April 5, 2005):
Located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, an internationally recognized leader in agricultural research, this barn complex was the site of the "single grain" experiment that called into question the prevailing nineteenth century "chemical" model of nutrition. This experiment quickly led to discovery of vitamins and their importance in a healthy diet. Designed as a test of the effectiveness of various types of agricultural feed for dairy cows, this experiment helped to establish the new science of nutrition during the twentiety century that had far-reaching benefits across the world.