Iowa Farm Converted Industrial Barn to Mushroom Facility
A family transitioned from hog farming to specialty mushrooms with support from a demonstration project.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Organic Food
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In the summer of 2026, the Faaborg family of 1100 Farm completed the conversion of a 200-foot-long industrial hog barn into a mushroom production facility. The project serves as a model for transitioning away from traditional animal agriculture.
Why it matters
This shift highlights a new approach to farm sustainability and infrastructure reuse in Iowa, aimed at reducing the physical and environmental demands of large-scale animal production. The model provides a pathway for producers to pivot their existing assets toward alternative food systems.
The Faaborg family is participating in a four-year, $216,000 contract to share labor and production data from their mushroom facility. This pilot project tracks operational metrics to validate the economic feasibility of repurposing specialized animal housing for agricultural alternatives.
The players
The Transfarmation Project
A program of the charity Mercy for Animals that provides technical support and open-source blueprints for converting industrial animal farms.
Mercy for Animals
A global non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting sustainable food systems.
Faaborg family
The owners of 1100 Farm who transitioned their Iowa operation from hog production to specialty mushroom cultivation.
The details
The facility retrofitted a section of existing hog infrastructure to create a controlled environment for mushroom cultivation. By repurposing high-cost structures like the original barn, the family aims to demonstrate how physical assets can be shifted to less resource-intensive production. The process includes tracking costs, labor hours, and margins to provide open-source insights for other producers interested in facility conversion.
Timeline
1980s: Rand and Tammy Faaborg purchased their 25-acre farm.
2021: The Faaborgs began working with The Transfarmation Project.
2022: The family sold their last herd of hogs.
2023: The family received a $15,000 pilot program grant.
Summer 2026: The family finished converting half of a hog barn.
Health Landscape
This transition aligns with efforts by The Transfarmation Project to repurpose industrial agriculture infrastructure for plant-based food production. It reflects a shift in agricultural land use, providing a model for farmers looking to diversify beyond traditional hog production.
This transition highlights how local agricultural outputs are diversifying, potentially increasing the variety of specialty, locally grown produce available in the area. Consumers can monitor how demonstration hubs like 1100 Farm influence the regional food supply and support local sustainability initiatives.
The takeaway
Repurposing livestock infrastructure shows that agricultural facilities can be adapted for diverse, plant-based production models. Local residents can keep an eye on how these farm conversions impact the availability of specialty produce in the state.
Further reading
For more on the shift toward sustainable crop alternatives, visit Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowa Public Radio.
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