Illinois Valley Community College opens new Agriculture Program Facility

Four years ago, the IVCC Agriculture program restarted with just nine students and two courses.

Now in its fifth school year, the program features 37 students, 19 classes and two associate of applied science degrees.

The evolution of the program took another step forward Thursday with the virtual grand opening of the IVCC Agriculture Program Facility — built in an old dairy barn — on the south end of the campus.

“Our goal was to stay connected to the antiquated dairy barn with a new facility that carries on the tradition of farming, but in a new era with state of the art equipment and new technology,” IVCC president Jerry Corcoran said. “I’m proud of the fact that we never lose sight of the need to modernize our campus so facilities match the faculty and staff when it comes to providing first-class teaching and learning environment for our students.

“This facility meets that objective.”

Willard Mott, one of the Agriculture program’s coordinators, called the new facility “remarkable," highlighted some of the accomplishments of the program to date and discussed the benefits of the new facility along with the 153-acre campus farm.

On Tuesday, IVCC students helped level a vertical tillage tool and tilled more than 50 acres of corn stalks. The program also is working with the University of Illinois extension to plant a cover crop demonstration and conduct research on local agriculture issues.

“The new Agriculture center will be a hub for hands-on learning experiences for students — everything from routine maintenance and set up of equipment to conducting field research and demonstrations on the farm,” Mott said. “The center provides the space needed to house equipment while students prepare it for field operation, collect data and learn more about its state of the art operation.

“It provides opportunities that would be hard to find anywhere else.”

LaMoille High School graduate Luke Lovgren, in his third semester with the IVCC Agriculture program, said the new facility shows IVCC’s commitment to the program.

“It keeps getting better and better,” Lovgren said about the program. “The enthusiasm and energy in the program grows each day.

"I’m happy to be here at a time when so many people are working on projects like this new maintenance shed that show the college is investing in a positive future for students.”

State Sen. Sue Rezin and State Rep. Lance Yednock both praised the IVCC Agriculture program and the new facility.

Rezin called agriculture the “cornerstone of the Illinois economy.”

“You saw a need, and you responded,” Rezin said about the program. “It’s been four years, and look where you are now.”

Yednock called the IVCC program “the gold standard of community college Agriculture programs statewide” and said the program will develop the type of employees agriculture businesses need.

“They want quality workers who understand the industry, and that’s what they’ll be doing at this institution, forming the next generation of farms and agri-business leaders,” Yednock said.

The next phase of the project is a building for a classrooms, labs and faculty offices.

“I want to reassert the board’s commitment to the Agriculture program and the tremendous promise it demonstrates,” IVCC board chair Jane Goetz said. “Willard (Mott), (co-coordinator) Kathryn (Seebruck) and Dean Ron Groleau have developed a solid curriculum to prepare our students for university transfer and immediate employment in one of the district’s 7,000-plus agriculture-related jobs.

"The board will continue to provide the resources needed to recruit, educate and graduate industry-ready students. We stand with you and believe in your ability to develop a flagship program.”