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Agribusiness connection a key to Ag Education

Minnesota Farm Bureau’s Post-Secondary Ag Educator of the Year says it’s important to have strong relationships with agribusinesses.

Kim Lippert, who recently retired as ag department chair of Ridgewater College in Willmar, tells Brownfield instructors should be seeking professional development opportunities.

“And not just supported by educational experiences, but also by industry. Where we can go to training many times that are supported by industry or our faculty.”

And with ag technology constantly changing, she says hand’s on learning is most effective.

“That means instructors have to be able to help students to be able to have boots on the ground when they go to a job after graduating from our program.”

Lippert says the ag program at Ridgewater helps students enter careers directly into farming or in agribusiness.