Over a three year period, the Ogle County Farm Bureau made a donation of $18,000 to the Highland Community College Agriculture Department, through the HCC Foundation. The gift was announced on Aug. 28 in a check presentation ceremony on campus.
Beginning in 2015, the pledge was to support the creation of the test plot. The money will be used to remodel Building E with a science lab and research greenhouse.
Keith Poole, president of the Ogle County Farm Bureau, remarked, “Highland has a great Ag Program, and our farm bureau wants to support education in agriculture and this is a way to continue to thank supporters as they move into agricultural careers.”
“We are very grateful for the donation and long-term commitment from the Ogle County Farm Bureau,” said Monica Pierce, Highland Ag instructor. “A huge function of the Farm Bureau organization is to educate and advocate for agriculture. Highland’s agriculture shares that function, and we are thankful for our partnership with the Ogle County Farm Bureau to pursue this mission together.”
Photo caption: (left to right) Laurie Peters (Freeport), Emily Denekas (Shannon), Ashley Knopp (Dixon), Daniel Pollock (Monroe, Wis.) Monica Pierce, Keith Poole, Tim Hood, president of Highland Community College and Jeff Reinke, executive director, HCC Foundation