With Sustainability in Mind, Northeast Community College Breaks Ground on New Agricultural Education Complex

Sept. 10, 2020, 5:41 p.m. ·

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(Photo by Christina Stella, NET News)

Leaders at Northeast Community College in Norfolk broke ground on a new agricultural education complex on Thursday.

The new facilities will include a veterinary technology building, feedlot, farm operations building, large animal handling classrooms, and a new farm.

All exist as part of Northeast's "Nexus" plan, which began planning to build the college's future Agriculture & Water Center for Excellence for five years. According to the project's mission statement, the complex's resources "
will emphasize soil health, water conservation, and technology adoption".

President Dr. Leah Barrett sees the new facilities as an investment in the longterm economic and environmental stability of Northeast's surrounding agricultural communities.

“They will instill a pride among our students as they prepare to enter the workforce and, for many of them, return to their hometowns and farms to ensure the region has opportunities to be prosperous and grow through either their own operation or by being employed by the myriad of businesses that are vital to the industry,” she said.

The college has already pivoted its agricultural curriculums toward sustainable farming, introducing degrees in precision agriculture and natural resources over the last few years. Any new educational resources on campus could be shared as part of an education compact the college recently joined with other regional institutions: Little Priest Tribal College, The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Wayne State University, and Nebraska Indian Community College.

So far, Northeast has raised over half of the $22 million needed to pay for the new buildings: construction costs are covered, but money for furnishings and equipment are still needed. A representative from TC Energy, a Canadian energy company specializing in fossil fuel pipelines, announced at the event that the company would donate $500,000 to the project.

Barring any disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic, Northeast plans to open the first set of new facilities in the fall of 2021.