Wyoming College Inks Land Deal for Agriculture Program

Agriculture students at Sheridan College will test new crops and study irrigation methods under a new hands-on program involving a plot of land the school is leasing. The land, part of which will be leased to a local farmer, will be managed jointly with the University of Wyoming and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the next 3 years.

"It serves the Sheridan College leadership role for agriculture in the region," said Maurie Petterson, vice president at Sheridan College. About 260 acres will be used by agriculture students for rangeland rehabilitation, natural resources management and other studies, said Jim Bennage, chair of the agriculture and technical careers department at Sheridan College.

"This is a situation where the sum is of greater value than the collection of parts," he said. The remaining 300 acres, which is irrigated alfalfa fields, will be leased by the school to Wyarno resident Jim Hardesty. Under a 3-year lease, Hardesty is required to maintain the property and any equipment used on it. Revenue from the lease will benefit the new agriculture program, officials said. Whitney Benefits Inc. agreed to let Sheridan College lease the land for the next three years at no charge.

Story courtesy of the Associated Press.