Beard Implement makes donations to JWCC Ag Program
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By DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Submitted photo
Beard Implement recently donated a Case IH Farmall Tractor to John Wood Community College’s Agricultural Sciences Department. The tractor will be used by students and faculty for crop development, research and other projects at JWCC’s Agricultural Education Center near Perry. In addition, the tractor will help with chores around the ag campus, such as setting up before last Friday’s livestock judging competition (shown in this photo).
Beard Implement Company recently made significant contributions to agricultural education at John Wood Community College (JWCC).
According to Mike Tenhouse, JWCC Ag Sciences Complex director, made a $25,000 monetary donation, and the company is providing the use of a Case IH Farmall Tractor to John Wood Community College’s Agricultural Sciences Department.
Both donations, according to Tenhouse, will support students’ experiential learning and research in West Central Illinois.
The monetary donation helped offset expenses associated with the recent construction of the Fred L. Bradshaw Learning Center at JWCC’s Orr Agricultural Education Center.
“Beard Implement made a commitment that paid for the heating and air conditioning in the arena of the new building,” Tenhouse said.
The tractor will be used by students and faculty for crop development, research and other projects at JWCC’s Agricultural Education Center near Perry.
“This is a generous gift that will help students get access to a state-of-the-art tractor so they can learn real-world skills in ag,” Tenhouse said. “It is important to blend theory with application, so our students are ready to make an impact with employers and be able to perform tasks in the field as well. We are very grateful to Beard Implement for investing in our students to set them up for success.”
Tenhouse said that new tractor will provide a teaching to from which students will learn much about mechanical maintenance and safety.
“It will be used for teaching general maintenance and for exhibiting safety features,” Tenhouse said.
Tenhouse also said the tractor could be outfitted with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in order to teach students how to utilize the most up to date technologies used in farming.
In addition, Tenhouse said that the new tractor will be used for general maintenance chores around JWCC’s agricultural campus outside Perry.
“It’s got a loader and forks, so we will be able to do a lot with it,” Tenhouse said. “We’ll use it to push snow around in the winter and to help do other upkeep around the buildings.”
Beard Implement Co. is a locally owned equipment dealer celebrating 86 years in business. An authorized CASE IH dealer, Beard serves West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri through locations in Arenzville, Ashland, Pittsfield and Hannibal, Mo.
“Once we visited the Ag Science Complex we knew right away that Beard Implement wanted to be involved. We recognize this new facility is a great asset to keep local agricultural education on the leading edge for current students. It will also help build the pipeline for future generations to work in agriculture. Beard Implement is proud to support the efforts of our local JWCC colleagues to make his research center successful,” explained Kyle Schumacher of Beard Implement Company.
