For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: December 13, 2019
Compeer Financial awards MORE for Agriculture grant to Southwest Tech
Sun Prairie -
Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America has awarded $50,000 to the Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Foundation, through their MORE for Agriculture Grant.
This grant, offered for the first time this year, supports innovative programs that encompass four qualities:
- Mission: Aligns with the mission of Compeer Financial, enriches agriculture and rural communities
- Opportunity: Provides a new opportunity for clients or future clients, fills a known void in agricultural and rural markets, is a new and innovative project
- Replication: Can be replicated by others to serve different geographic areas, with the ability for future collaboration
- Evolution: Evolves over time to create a better future for agriculture and rural America
The Mobile Agriculture Lab project is part of a comprehensive plan to expose high school students to important concepts and careers related to agriculture, to encourage continued training and employment in the field of agriculture. It will allow instructors to take projects and hands-on activities to high schools, where students can meet with instructors and receive an in-depth look into agriculture topics taught at Southwest Tech.
The technology that the Mobile Agriculture Lab provides students will fill a known void across our district related to agriculture education. The Mobile Ag Lab will provide expertise from our college’s instructors on current topics in agriculture and provide career exploration to increase student’s interest in career opportunities in the agriculture industry,” said Derek Dachelet, Executive Dean of Agriculture, Industry and Trades at Southwest Tech.
The Southwest Tech Foundation was incorporated in 1980 to identify, solicit and manage alternative sources of funding to support the commitment to excellence of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. Their mission is to promote learning through funding and activities that enable Southwest Tech to provide opportunities for success.
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Trustees asked Compeer team members to identify programs and projects that they feel create MORE for agriculture. In all, more than $228,000 was awarded to six projects. Grant recipients include: Agriculture in the Classroom, Central Community Unit School District 301, Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Minnesota Foundation for UMN Extension, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Foundation and University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture.
“The MORE for Agriculture grant recipients are leaders and innovators in the world of agriculture,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer. “It is an honor to partner with these organizations who are truly making a difference in their communities with these pioneering projects.”
“We’re grateful for the generous support of Compeer Financial and excited about the opportunity to create a Mobile Ag Lab,” said Jamie Horsfall, Agriculture Instructor at Southwest Tech.
For more information, visit the Compeer Financial website.
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $21.4 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.