FREEPORT – Highland Community College’s Agriculture faculty hosted hundreds of attendees at their third annual Northwest Illinois Agriculture Industry Expo held on campus Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Each year the event continues to expand in attendees and provided activities.
HCC’s three agriculture instructors coordinated the event, bringing together more than 250 people including high school students, current Highland ag students, and industry professionals from nearly 50 employers for learning and networking. Abigayle Endress of Elliot, Trainor & Weller P.C. Attorneys at Law gave a keynote address to guests.
“We are pleased to see the continued participation from our regional agriculture employers, and we cannot thank them enough for their involvement,” said Instructor Monica Pierce. “Year after year, they continue to show up to connect with our students. Many of our students leave the event feeling inspired and invigorated to continue moving on their career path. It really is a powerful event.”
Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on activity stations led by industry experts, connected with employers over lunch, and participated in a career fair where they shared their résumés, explored future job opportunities and expanded their professional networks. Through these experiences, students were able to make the connection between Highland Agriculture’s degree programs and employment opportunities.
This year, the program also shuttled participants out to the 55-acre Highland Community College Research Farm. The land is owned by the Highland Community College Foundation and operated by the Agriculture program. Students learned about the recently installed 13-acre subsurface irrigation system and the construction of a new Technology Center adjacent to the crop plots. The irrigation system and building construction will be completed and operational for the 2025 growing season.
“I think adding the Research Farm tour to the expo this year shows the students and our community that the Agriculture department is committed to providing unique opportunities for our students to explore the abundant career opportunities available in agriculture,” said Instructor Justin Ebert.
Industry partners participating in this year’s event include Adkins Energy LLC, Agrisoar Solutions, A.I.M. (Agroecology + Innovation Matters), Baker Precision Planter Works, Carroll County Farm Bureau, Carroll Service Company, Carthage System Professional Swine Management, Casper’s Calf Ranch, Channel Seed, Citizens State Bank, Compeer Financial, Corn Belt Ag Services LLC, DEKALB Asgrow Seed, East Dubuque Nitrogen Fertilizers, Eastland Feed & Grain Inc., Equity Livestock Sales, First Farm Dairy Cooperative, Grade Solutions LLC, Greater Freeport Partnership, Illinois Agricultural Education (FCAE), Illinois Department of Agriculture, Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau, Jo Daviess Local Foods, Maplehurst Farms Inc., Midwestern BioAg, Midwest Groundcovers, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Parallel Ag, Pearl Valley Farms, PCE – Pearl City Elevator Inc., Prairie State Tractor, Rahn Family Farms, Rolling Hills Dairy Producers Cooperative, Sabrosura, Sloan Implement, Solutions Bank, Stephenson County Farm Bureau, Stephenson Service Company, University of Illinois Extension – Jo Daviess/Stephenson/Winnebago County, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rain and Hail, Vita Plus, Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau and Winnebago County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Highland Agriculture offers certificates and degree paths in Agribusiness, Animal Science, Crop Science Technology, Horticulture, Cannabis Studies, Commercial Application, Agricultural Education, Food Science, and Agricultural Production.
For more information on the Agriculture program at Highland, visit highland.edu/agriculture.