Heartland cuts ribbon on ag complex

Heartland Community College celebrated the opening of a new 29,500 square foot facility and outside growing labs which will support agriculture programs and the next generation of area ag students.

Heartland staff, students, local officials, and agriculture industry leaders participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new $23M Agriculture Complex located on the west side of the main Heartland campus on Raab Road in Normal.

The complex includes both instructional and community education space including the McLean County Farm Bureau Agriculture Lab, the GROWMARK FS Atrium, and the Funk Family Foundation Outdoor Learning Center.

“The Ag industry is integral to the economic health and welfare of Central Illinois. With this facility we have the learning spaces needed for plant science, soil analysis, precision planting technology, drone technology, heavy equipment, agribusiness, and the many other types of instruction tied to this diverse industry,” said Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille. “But the Agriculture Complex will also be a resource to engage community youth. The space will be used for school field trips, F-F-A members, 4-H club members, and others who will carry the industry on for generations to come.”

In addition to the McLean County Farm Bureau, GROWMARK FS and the Funk Family Foundation, support for the Heartland Agriculture Complex project has been provided by Bob Brucker, Alan Bedell & Deanna Frautschi, Cargill, CoBank, Compeer Financial, the Daily family, Precision Planting, Illinois Soybean Association, Joe Talkington, and others.

Thanks to an additional $2M grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICEF), the building is a “Net Zero” facility. The ICEF grant funding supported project costs and building components related to energy efficiency and renewable self-generation, enabling the project to achieve site net zero energy performance.

Heartland Community College offers multiple pathways for agriculture students including the degree programs Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, as well as certifications in Agriculture Business, Agronomy, Precision Agriculture and Regenerative Agriculture.

The Ag Complex is expected to serve 200 credit-program students at Heartland annually.