INA, Ill. (September 6, 2022) — Rend Lake College Agriculture Students spent a day in the field to learn about rotational grazing from Ernie Duckworth, a longtime Franklin County Grass Farmer.
RLC Ag Instructor, Ed Billingsley, organized the day for students to get hands-on experience and additional exposure to the Ag industry outside the classroom. "The students got to go to the Duckworth Farm on the East Side of Benton," Bilingsley stated. " It is important to give students opportunities like these because they get to witness a true ag experience. It is not just talking about something but seeing it in action. The students enjoyed the demonstration and were very attentive and respectful."
RLC was recently awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) for the next generation of farmers and ranchers.
"Workshop opportunities, like the rotational grazing experience, support the goals of the NIFA grant," said RLC Dean of Applied Science & Advanced Technology Dr. Gabrielle Farner. "We aim to provide participants who are interested in agriculture with resources that will help in the daily management and operations of farms and ranches."