Fessenden Cooperative Association donated $30,000 to Lake Region State College’s new ag education building project.
The gift gives Fessenden Cooperative Association the opportunity to name the office areas of the building.
The college’s precision agriculture program has a long working relationship with Fessenden Co-op Association and its Precision Ag Results business unit, said Mark Hovland, Fessenden Cooperative Association General Manager.
“We are thrilled to have a part in helping the dream of a new building on the LRSC campus become a reality. We look forward to continued work with LRSC in the future on Precision Ag products and services while assisting each other with development of future leaders who enroll in the program,” Hovland said.
LRSC President Doug Darling said support from those who live and work within the agriculture industry showcases the need for the new ag education facility at the college.
“Having industry support in the region is vital for the building to become a reality. It’s exciting to see these organizations step forward and back this project,” Darling said.
The 2019 North Dakota Legislature authorized construction of a new $3 million ag education building at LRSC. The legislation provided a direct appropriation of $1 million along with some matching fund opportunities and named the building for Curt and Annette Hofstad, long-time Lake Region residents and friends of LRSC.
The Community College Foundation, which supports Lake Region State College, launched a capital campaign this spring to raise $1.5 million. The campaign, when combined with the state appropriation and other state match programs, will bring the college to its $3 million goal.
The new ag education building will provide enhanced classroom space and a shop more suited for working with today’s precision ag components and large equipment. With LRSC’s own test field right outside the new building location, students will have real world experiences and graduate with knowledge from the classroom and field.
The Precision Ag program at LRSC has continued to grow since starting classes in 2013. Recently, the ag program was ranked #10 by Precision Ag Institute in its top-20 list because of LRSC’s combination of Industry partners and hands on approach to instruction. The excellent relationship with industry benefits students and employers.
Established in 1941, Lake Region State College is a comprehensive community college based in Devils Lake, ND. LRSC offers education in a variety of career and technical programs and associate arts (transfer) degree for those planning to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree. The college offers its peace officer training program in Minot each spring, Grand Forks and Fargo each summer; its nursing program in Grand Forks and Mayville; is part of the Grand Forks Air Force Base Education Center; has a program called LAUNCH! that serves students in Grand Forks planning on transferring to UND; numerous degrees and courses online; and early entry and dual credit courses for eligible high school students.
In the photo: Brian Dinger, Fessenden Cooperative Association Agronomy Manager; LRSC President Doug Darling; Preston Sundeen, LRSC Precision Ag Program Director, Mark Hovland, Fessenden Cooperative Association General Manager; and Paul Backstrom, Fessenden Cooperative Association Precision Ag division