NWTC to Receive Federal Grant for Agriculture Training

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is pleased to announce the College received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen existing College agriculture programs.
 
NWTC is one of 12 two-year colleges to receive the award, which is made possible through the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative’s (AFRI) Agricultural Workforce Training program priority area. 

"As America's Dairyland, Wisconsin has a proud tradition of offering our farmers strong educational opportunities," said Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher. "This grant will provide Northeast Wisconsin Technical College the opportunity to incorporate critical hands-on training into their coursework and ensure that the next generation of Wisconsin farmers don't have to travel far to get a high-quality education."
 
The grant funding supports the purchase of equipment that will allow NWTC to incorporate hands-on simulation learning in their classroom, such as ways to operate a tractor and a combine.
 
“We know that many of our students come to us without experience operating farm equipment when they enroll in our agriculture programs,” said NWTC Dean of Trades & Engineering Dr. Amy Kox. “This grant will allow us to integrate tractor and combine simulation into the program instruction and provide graduates with the skills needed to safely operate tractors and combines." 
 
This is the first time the NIFA has specifically targeted two-year colleges to increase training opportunities for the food and agricultural workforce sector. 

“Community colleges provide substantial workforce development throughout the nation,” said NIFA Director Scott Angle. “These awards will lead to workers earning a two-year degree or an industry-accepted credential, which will open better job opportunities in the food and agricultural sector.” 

Award grant details can be found on NIFA’s Current Research Information System website.