TERRE HAUTE, Ind –  At the December Vigo County School the board was presented with a gift from Ceres Solutions to help the School Corporation, educators and local families to bring a renewed appreciation of local agriculture back into classroom curriculum.

Ceres Solutions is investing funds in the creation and successful promotion of the first course of what the company hopes is a growing, robust local ag program. That first course will be called Introduction to Agriculture and Agribusiness Management.  In total, there will be three new curriculums integrated into the schools, and those will be introduced over the next three years, coinciding with investments in the local student organization FFA.

The donation made by Ceres Solutions also included matching funds that the Ceres team secured from their partner COBANK. The total investment made and presented to Vigo County was $7,500.

“Our local schools are fortunate to have partners like Ceres Solutions,” said CTE Director Doug Dillion.  “At our Agriculture advisory meeting, we discussed the challenge of how to promote the Agriculture pathways with students after the long absence. We had limited funds for marketing and promoting this opportunity.  The investment and the enthusiasm of the local Ceres employees helps kickstart our program, helping quickly grow awareness before student scheduling. That’s a huge benefit for the schools.”

Local Ceres Solutions employees Shane “Mac” McCullough, Hannah Lynch and Cory Wermert attended the December 9 Corporation Meeting to make a check presentation and share their enthusiasm.  Said Dillion, “I want to thank Ceres Solutions for going above and beyond in helping promote Agriculture in Vigo County.  I was truly surprised when Cory handed me the check.  It was a nice holiday surprise.”

Cory Wermert, Regional Agronomy Director for Ceres Solutions, views the opportunity to partner as an honor for Ceres.  “We frequently invest in local 4-H and FFA, as most families already know. This special effort to help re-introduce ag pathways curriculum into high schools is a four-way win.  It is a win for the Vigo County students, farmers and the local economy.  It is also a win for Ceres as we seek to serve local farmers and employ top-quality talent coming out of our local schools.  We share Doug’s enthusiasm for what we hope is a long partnership.”

For more information about Ceres Solutions, follow social media and also visit www.ceres.coop.