A project was recently wrapped up at the Dallas County Human Services Campus, giving Des Moines Area Community College a new facility to use in their agriculture education program.

The old bus barn at the campus, located north of Adel, was repurposed into two classrooms and a lab space. The idea came from DMACC professors and County officials, who sought to put the long dormant barn to good use. The project was then designed by architecture firm the Farnsworth Group, and Joe Cover’s Construction was selected to execute the remodel, which cost around $95,000. The contractor ran into a few bumps along the way, including a family of raccoons that made a home in the facility over the winter, but they were able to finish earlier this month.

Dallas County Operations Director Rob Tietz told the Board of Supervisors that he had visited the site to see the finished product, and said he was very impressed. At their most recent meeting, the Board approved the final payments to Cover, including the release of retainage and certificate of completion. DMACC will start using the classrooms next school year.