Bismarck State Ag Program Gets Grant from CHS

The Bismarck State College (BSC) Agriculture, Technology, Food & Natural Resources program has been awarded a $79,141 grant from the CHS Foundation. The CHS Foundation is funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative. This new grant funding will be used to fund projects aimed at revitalizing current programs and purchasing new, state-of-the-art equipment to be implemented in Agriculture Systems Management course curriculum. Such equipment includes a hydraulics trainer and several other electronics-related trainers. The new equipment will give students hands-on experiences that will address necessary industry skill sets in electronics, hydraulics, automation, robotics and sensor technology through problem-solving and troubleshooting. These critical workforce skills will allow students to successfully operate modern agricultural machinery following completion of the program and students will be proficient in using diagnostic equipment, reading electrical schematics, operating electrical control devices and more. BSC’s project director for this initiative, Associate Professor of Precision Agriculture Carmel Miller, said that this funding will be instrumental in preparing students for the workforce. “Students entering careers as agronomists, precision technicians and farmers will benefit from what this brings to their instruction.” “Precision agriculture and new technology is essential to production agriculture,” said CHS Foundation President Megan Wolle. “With the skills learned through BSC’s curriculum, we’re confident that students will be well-trained and ready to use this equipment as they pursue careers at cooperatives, ag businesses or their own farming operations.” This most recent CHS Foundation gift to BSC is an outcome of a long, successful partnership between the CHS and the BSC Foundations. Since 2000, the CHS Foundation has invested in BSC Agriculture programs and students through contributions to scholarships, grants and Project CARE, an emergency fund that helps students in need.