Sheldon, Iowa – The Sheldon FFA Chapter was recently awarded a $4,000 grant from Ag Partners, a full-service ag retailer, and CoBank, a national cooperative bank, and will be used to purchase an Ag Leader simulator. In addition to the grant, the Sheldon FFA also received a laptop from Ag Partners to be used with the Ag Leader monitor.
Gene Bomgaars, the Sheldon FFA Chapter advisor, stated that “It’s really going to give them a taste of what it’s really like,” in reference to the students opportunity to glimpse how precision agriculture works in the world today, and it will give them hands on experience both in, and out of, the field. Bomgaars says “We’re thankful to Ag Partners and CoBank for the opportunity to give our students additional hands on experiences in precision agriculture.”
The chapter plants a corn-bean rotation on just under 100 acres of land, but reserves two acres for the planting of sweet corn. This is done with a two-row planter, and they sell the fruits of their labor to area grocery stores and the community. Students have the option to purchase shares of the operation, and they take part in every step of the process, from planning to planting, and then marketing their product after harvest. The use of precision ag equipment, such as the Ag Leader simulator, helps students make decisions about their crops using the latest technology, and teaches them entrepreneurship, Bomgaars says.
The check was presented by Brett Peelen, Precision Ag Technician with Ag Partners, and is himself a Sheldon FFA chapter alumnus. “Precision agriculture is constantly changing, and can be an extremely valuable tool for producers,” Peelen says. “Ag Partners is happy to provide this innovative equipment to area students in an effort to give them a real world view of agriculture today.”
Ag Partners provides products, services and market access in the areas of grain, agronomy, feed and petroleum. Formed in 1977, the company represents a joint venture between Alceco, an Iowa cooperative, and Cargill. The company’s locations include retail and wholesale agronomy outlets, grain facilities and feed mills throughout Iowa. For more information, visit www.agpartners.com.
