“The project has evolved slowly, and there will be bumps in the road as we adapt the design and develop our markets,” Gelder says. “We're waiting on the legal and fundraising details.”

Ag Ventures' experience with stock offerings and capitalizing new businesses is key to its next step. Past Ag Ventures enterprises have been funded by many small investors rather than fewer larger ones through public stock offerings.

“Our intent is to create opportunity for our membership and bring in new members who want to diversify their investments,” Gelder says.

The shrimp venture is but one of several being investigated by Ag Ventures Alliance. Wind-based energy generation has been studied, but the existing rate structure makes it a challenging market to enter. “Maybe there's a way to aggregate large numbers of farmers with small farm turbines to make it affordable,” Gelder muses.

For a Web video of this story, go to http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/tv/?cid=tvpromo

Imagine driving down Iowa's Interstate-35 and seeing 85 sunflower-shaped solar collectors, a field of wind turbines and a space-station-looking ring of light. Is it Roswell, NM? No, it is the future Swaledale BioVillage.

Four years ago, the tiny burg of Swaledale, IA, population 173, approached Ag Ventures Alliance for help brainstorming a tourist attraction that would also serve its daily grocery and commercial needs.

Noted “green” architect Tom Hurd designed a 40-acre eco-tourist destination with sustainable wind and solar energy sources, futuristic shapes and attractive landforms.

“When you drive down the highway, you won't have seen anything like it before,” says Bob Cole, a retired Extension community and economic development specialist and Ag Ventures BioVillage project leader. “The colossal wind turbines and solar collectors will catch your eye initially.”

There will also be a circle of shops featuring locally produced foods. A state-certified community kitchen will enable neighbors to produce jellies, salsas, cookies and related foods that meet government sanitation standards for retail sales.

Another display will feature sustainably made products, such as benches made from recycled milk jugs.

There will be a lake, ponds, waterfalls, bio-gardens, hildren's play area, theater and natural mazes of corn, soybeans and native grasses. An adjacent gas biofuels station will have a roofscape of trees and gardens.

Motorists will have their choice of every biofuel blend available.

It's hoped that Swaledale's population density will increase, with sustainably designed condos and duplexes near the BioVillage.

The BioVillage will be powered by wind turbines and solar power. As such, the BioVillage will serve as an exemplary model of a futuristic, environmentally friendly sustainable community.