“Amdrupgård. Ever heard of it?” Once a small farming village, Amdrupgård transformed into something far grander. Let me tell you its story. Amdrupgård stands in Ødum Sogn, Favrskov Kommune. This old main farm has seen many changes.
The current main building dates back to 1888. Today, Amdrupgård serves as a plant breeding research station. But its history is much richer than that. It has been both an agricultural school and a cavalry estate.
Amdrupgård’s story begins in the early 1700s. Back then, Amdrup was a small village. It consisted of about five farms. These farms were bought up. They were then incorporated into the Amdrupgård estate.
In 1725, King Frederik IV took over Amdrupgård. The farm became a cavalry estate. The king had ordered the construction of schools. These schools had to be built on all Danish cavalry estates from 1721. Amdrupgård got its school the same year the king acquired it. These cavalry schools followed a standard design across the country. They were built between 1721 and 1727.
In 1890, Jens Poulsen Nyboe bought Amdrupgård. His goal was to establish an agricultural school. The farm operated as a school until the summer of 1913. Then, the state took ownership of the property.
The state took over Amdrupgård in 1948. A state research station for plant breeding was established. This station remained in operation until 1995. After that, the property was sold. From 1949 to 1968, Holger Land Jensen was the manager.
Amdrupgård has had several owners. The Crown owned it from 1725. Jens Poulsen Nyboe owned it from 1890. The Ministry of Agriculture owned it from 1948 to 1995. Erik E. Poulsen owned it from 1995 to 1996. Ove Vinther owned it from 1996 to 1998. ABS Transport ApS owned it from 1998 to 2010. Since 2011, Eldal A/S has been the owner of Amdrupgård.
Today, Amdrupgård stands as a testament to its diverse past. From a small village to a royal estate to a research station, it has played many roles. As you stand here, imagine the farmers, kings, students, and researchers who have walked this land. Their stories are woven into the very fabric of Amdrupgård.