Rend Lake College News

Odin High School FFA Visits the RLC Agronomy Innovation Center

Written by Kendra Gregory | Sep 25, 2024 1:00:00 PM

INA, Ill (September 25, 2024)—On September 6, the Odin High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) members visited the RLC Agronomy Innovation Center (AIC) to see and experience the education that Rend Lake College offers to Agriculture students.

Odin High School FFA

The high school students took a tour through the AIC to view the equipment that is used for training. At the end of the tour, students got to witness the sprayer control system on the John Deere 410R Sprayer demonstrating automatic/individual nozzle control and turn compensation utilizing the ExactApply Nozzle System.

"One of the main goals for the day was creating a hands-on-experience for these students," says Blake Patton, Director of Agronomy Innovation Center & Land Lab Supervisor. "They learned how technology has changed and improved the way we plant, spray and fertilize products out in the field as well as harvesting the crop."

This fall, Patton traveled to 5 different high schools to describe and share the educational experiences received at the Agronomy Innovation Center, and how RLC's new and developing programs can help blossom their future career endeavors.

"I am happy that Odin High School came to us to see and understand for themselves our capabilities and passion to teach Agriculture Technology," Patton shares.

For more information on RLC's Agriculture program, visit www.rlc.edu/programs-and-degrees/332-agriculture.