HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Hutchinson Community College and PrairieLand Partners will celebrate a new partnership designed to expand educational and career opportunities in agricultural technology with a ribbon cutting on Friday, Sept. 25.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 10:30 a.m. at PrairieLand Partners, 1800 S. Lorraine in Hutchinson. From 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, the new facility as well as PrairieLand’s facility will host an open house with tours and refreshments.
The partnership brings Hutchinson Community College’s educational expertise together with PrairieLand Partners’ industry knowledge and resources to provide students with hands-on opportunities to prepare for careers in the agricultural equipment industry.
Through the partnership, students will have the opportunity to earn an associate degree from Hutchinson Community College while working toward becoming a John Deere Certified Technician. The training will provide students with valuable technical skills and practical experience working with modern agricultural equipment and technology.
“This partnership is an outstanding example of education and industry working together to create opportunities for students and meet the workforce needs of our region,” said Dr. Tricia Paramore, Hutchinson Community College president. “By combining classroom learning with hands-on, industry-focused training, we can help prepare students for rewarding careers while strengthening the workforce and economy of our communities.”
Reed Allen, Director of Aftermarket for PrairieLand Partners commented, “Making sure we’re able to provide the support our customers need is one of our top priorities at PrairieLand Partners, and this partnership enables us to continue to invest in the next generation by training and developing technicians that will support our customers and their operations.”
The new PrairieLand Partners facility provides an expanded environment for students to gain experience with the equipment, technology and systems they will encounter in the agricultural industry.
“Partnerships like this are an investment in our students, our employers and the future of our community,” Paramore said. “We are excited about the opportunities this will create for students interested in agriculture, technology and skilled technical careers.”
For more information on this opportunity, visit www.hutchcc.edu/plp.
