Ag Industry Shows Support for Ridgewater

To help advance an already strong education-industry connection, 29 agricultural partners recently committed to a new Ridgewater College Ag Industry Partner Sponsorship program, facilitated by the Ridgewater College Foundation and the Ridgewater Agriculture Department.  

They backed up their commitment by donating $37,500, plus in-kind contributions exceeding $30,000. 

“We have such great industry partners in our region,” said Tammy Howe, Ridgewater Agriculture Coordinator. 

“Our new sponsorship program gives industry partners an opportunity to increase their business’s visibility and enhance brand awareness to Ridgewater students who are potential future employees and customers. It also provides enhanced career exploration avenues for our students through networking, collaboration, mentorship, and more.”   

Community partnerships across all areas of the college are essential to the success of the institution and the success of students, explained Kelly Magnuson, Ridgewater Vice President for Advancement; Outreach and Foundation Executive Director. 

“We’re excited about the overwhelming response to this new program – it’s a win-win for the college and the partners and really highlights the industry’s confidence in our agriculture programs,” Magnuson said. 

Ridgewater’s Agriculture Department, which is the largest two-year program in Minnesota, includes 10 programs, everything from agribusiness and agronomy applicator technician to dairy and farm management, poultry, precision agriculture, and now meat cutting.