Hartnell Community College is training students in new agricultural technology
Hartnell Community College is the only school in California to offer an AG-Tech-focused mechatronic program.
Hartnell College is teaching students how to program, maintain, and operate some of the new technology in the agricultural industry. The program not only offers students hands-on learning, but it also helps them land paid internships and full-time jobs with local ag partners.“We’re focused on is, how can we work with our local industry partners to truly train the next generation of workers. They truly know what our students need to know, so we are sitting there working with them and listening to them on what skills and competencies our students need,” said Clint Cowden, Hartnell College dean of academic affairs. On Wednesday, Hartnell College staff and students demonstrated the technology they’re using in the classroom. “This isn’t just a tiny little pretend toy for training, this is real components they find in the real world,” said Richard Chapman, Hartnell College instructor. The AG-Tech lab at the college allows students to train with real-world equipment; there the students can work on machines that can wash, prep, and package produce.“I started working in agriculture, and then I got interested in this program. I started coming here, and then I got interested in agriculture, production, agriculture, business, science, and food safety,” said Iliana Cisneros, a Hartnell College student.The college also offers a welding program which students are also enrolling in. “I wanted a job that paid well and also would let me express my creativity. and also because I saw that there was a need for it in our community. and that was an opportunity for me to have classes here,” said Andy Garcia Ortiz, a Hartnell College student. The AG-Tech lab was funded by companies like Taylor Farms, the James Irvine Foundation, and Bank of America.If approved by the state of California and the Bay Area Community College Consortium, Hartnell College will offer students an associates degree in agriculture technology in fall 2024.“There’s not a single college focused on ag mechatronics right now for the state, and probably for the western United States, we are the only community college with a full ag mechatronics focus,” Chapman said.
Hartnell College is teaching students how to program, maintain, and operate some of the new technology in the agricultural industry. The program not only offers students hands-on learning, but it also helps them land paid internships and full-time jobs with local ag partners.
“We’re focused on is, how can we work with our local industry partners to truly train the next generation of workers. They truly know what our students need to know, so we are sitting there working with them and listening to them on what skills and competencies our students need,” said Clint Cowden, Hartnell College dean of academic affairs.
On Wednesday, Hartnell College staff and students demonstrated the technology they’re using in the classroom.
“This isn’t just a tiny little pretend toy for training, this is real components they find in the real world,” said Richard Chapman, Hartnell College instructor.
The AG-Tech lab at the college allows students to train with real-world equipment; there the students can work on machines that can wash, prep, and package produce.
“I started working in agriculture, and then I got interested in this program. I started coming here, and then I got interested in agriculture, production, agriculture, business, science, and food safety,” said Iliana Cisneros, a Hartnell College student.
The college also offers a welding program which students are also enrolling in.
“I wanted a job that paid well and also would let me express my creativity. and also because I saw that there was a need for it in our community. and that was an opportunity for me to have classes here,” said Andy Garcia Ortiz, a Hartnell College student.
The AG-Tech lab was funded by companies like Taylor Farms, the James Irvine Foundation, and Bank of America.
If approved by the state of California and the Bay Area Community College Consortium, Hartnell College will offer students an associates degree in agriculture technology in fall 2024.
“There’s not a single college focused on ag mechatronics right now for the state, and probably for the western United States, we are the only community college with a full ag mechatronics focus,” Chapman said.
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