A new ag education center at Lake Region State College is one step closer to reality after a donation from Leading Edge Equipment.
Leading Edge Equipment donated $50,000 to LRSC’s agricultural education building that will be constructed on the college campus in the near future.
The gift gives Leading Edge Equipment the opportunity to name one of the classrooms in the building.
“Leading Edge has been a key partner for the Precision Ag program since its inception and recognizes the importance of the program to the ag industry in the region,” said LRSC President Doug Darling.
Darling added that Leading Edge has given the college a great start on raising the matching funds required to begin construction on the new facility.
The 2019 North Dakota Legislature authorized construction of a new $3 million ag education building at LRSC. The legislation provided an appropriation of $1 million for the project and requested the building be named for Curt and Annette Hofstad, long-time Lake Region residents and friends of LRSC.
“Leading Edge Equipment is proud to support Lake Region State College with its ag building. Agriculture is vital to the region and we’re thrilled to work alongside this program,” said Jim Vasichek, owner of Leading Edge Equipment.
With a new ag building on the LRSC campus, students will have access to the trailblazing technology and education critically needed for careers in agriculture. 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.
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.
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.
Leading Edge Equipment is a full-service John Deere dealership, currently in the third generation of family ownership. They serve customers with locations in Michigan, Devils Lake, Hampden and Carrington.
In the photo: Elonda Nord, CCF Executive Director; Ron Walford, Devils Lake Store Manager and CCF Board member; Jim Vasichek, owner of Leading Edge Equipment; LRSC President Doug Darling, Dr. Jason Fewell, LRSC Farm Management Director, Preston Sundeen, LRSC Precision Ag Program Director.