Riverland embracing need for more agriculture programs

Agriculture education was the focus Tuesday afternoon at the 10th annual Agriculture Luncheon and Farm Family of the Year recognition.

During the luncheon, sponsored by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Cole and Katie Pestorious were given the Farm Family of the Year Award. They were at the luncheon with their children Danica, Bridget and Cael.

It is the 36th year for the award, said Chuck Schwartau, campus regional director at the University of Minnesota Extension Rochester office.

Mary Davenport, vice president of Riverland Community College, was the featured speaker and gave out some fast facts about agriculture in Minnesota. She said agriculture is the core of Minnesota’s economy, and there are about 75,000 farms in the state on 26 million acres of farmland. However, the number of farms in the state are down 8 percent and farmland is down as well.

Along with that, there aren’t many new farms, and the average age of farmers is mid-50s, she said.

Davenport said the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said the shortage of new farms is a threat for the state’s economy.

However, Davenport said, there is good news in that the numbers may be changing. She said advances in agriculture technology like robotics, biometrics and big data systems are capturing young people.

Ultimately, Davenport said Riverland Community College is trying to help inspire students to go into agriculture.

She said the college is doing this two ways: programs and partnerships.

The college is introducing new agriculture programs with core curriculum in agronomy, agribusiness, crop reduction, global positioning and more.

Davenport said the college has already signed up students for the fall 2015 semester.

There will also be two additional agriculture programs that are pending approval: an Associate of Science degree in biotechnology and an Associate of Science degree in food science technology.

As for partnerships, Riverland is partnered with Minnesota State University, Mankato, so students can earn four-year degrees easier. Davenport said Riverland also has a partnership with Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.

Riverland is connecting with regional school districts, offering post-secondary enrollment for high school students as well as College in the Schools classes.

She called for the support of all the people in the room and said partnerships with farm businesses can help students get work experience or scholarships.

Davenport stressed agriculture education as a positive force to introduce young people to agriculture, and called it the “success of southern Minnesota.”