College News

Minnesota West Receives Grant

4/12/21

Minnesota West Community & Technical College Farm Business Management, Lamb & Wool and Small Business Management Programs recently received grant funding from Minnesota Telemedia. The grant, in the amount of $31,375 funded the purchase of enhanced technology equipment for all of our Farm Business Management, Lamb & Wool, and Small Business Management instructors.

The funding for the equipment will promote and enhance collaboration between instructors, student management groups and the agriculture community as another tool to teach, educate and collaborate with their member producers to be as successful as possible.
Mike Dierks, Farm Business Management instructor at Minnesota West notes, “This past year producers needed several meetings to discuss all the government policies and procedures that were taking place due to covid restrictions and plant closures. Those that elected to stay home realized that a ten minute zoom session was just as beneficial from home virtually as a trip into town for an in-person meeting. This enhanced technology opportunity saved them travel time and still answered the questions they had on requirements. This technology will also be helpful with reviewing financial documents with producers or hosting group meetings in an efficient manner.”
“We are very optimistic about the future of Farm Business Management in Southwest and West Central Minnesota as we strive to be the regional leaders in providing high quality management training to our farmer students. The addition of the technology that we were able to obtain from this grant will allow our FBM instructors to collaborate in a more efficient manner with our farmers and stakeholders to provide “just in time” information. As a group we are excited to bring in world-class speakers to our local communities via a distance and work with local school districts to provide access to these resources for our future generations of those involved in production agriculture. We look forward to increased efficiency and heightened opportunities for our farmers and the college,” comments Minnesota West Dean of Agriculture and Business, Paul Lanoue.
The scope and purpose of the project is a natural fit with the purpose and mission of the Minnesota Telemedia. The project outreach is very regional in nature and helps foster and build outreach and communication and collaboration as a result of the enhanced capabilities of the newly expanded services.

For more information about these program opportunities please call 800-658-2330 or visit www.mnwest.edu