DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — A new crop of young people is entering the business of ag, and one new entry point is the Dakota Precision Ag Center at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake — a program that touts an up-close and personal approach.
According to a report from the Grand Forks Herald, Dakota Precision Ag Center students had an opportunity to attend the recent Big Iron Farm Show in West Fargo, N.D.
"Paul Gunderson, Dakota Precision Ag Center director, revived LRSC's ag degree program with a federal grant. Gunderson is expecting to retire in December. This past August, LRSC announced internally that Sundeen, an instructor in the program, would become the new director.
"The two-year program is in its third year and one class of 16 students has graduated, Sundeen says. Program participants earn an Associate of Applied Science degree. The students are primarily local, often from North Dakota within a 200-mile radius.
"Classes have been about 20 students each. About half of the students are going back to a home farm. Another quarter of the students are heading toward employment in an implement dealership or an agribusiness, such as an electronics hardware supplier. The last fourth of the students are hoping for a career in agronomy services, Sundeen says. Five of the recent graduates have gone on to North Dakota State University to pursue a four-year degree."
