PRESS RELEASE: IOWA LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENHANCES COLLEGE FARM WITH NEW AUDIO-VISUAL SYSTEM THROUGH PACGDC MINI-GRANT
(Emmetsburg, Iowa) – Iowa Lakes Community College has installed a new audio-visual presentation system at the Iowa Lakes College Farm thanks to a Mini-Grant awarded this spring by the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation (PACGDC). The upgraded system is already improving instructional delivery, communication, and event quality for agriculture education and community engagement activities.
The Iowa Lakes College Farm is heavily utilized for hands-on coursework, livestock and crop demonstrations, field days, high school FFA programming, and meetings hosted in partnership with regional agriculture industry leaders. Prior to the grant, the farm lacked a reliable audio-visual setup, creating challenges for presenters, instructors, and visitors.
“The Farm Lab has seen a substantial rise in usage by industry partners, high schools, and community organizations,” said Kyle Norris, Vice President of Academic Affairs. An audio-visual presentation system was critically needed to support this growth. Thanks to the PACGDC Mini-Grant, we now have a professional setup that enhances instruction, strengthens communication during demonstrations, and elevates the visitor experience.”
The equipment supports a wide range of activities, from safety briefings and technical demonstrations to student-led presentations and industry trainings.
Norris emphasized the impact on student learning. “Agriculture is a hands-on, visually driven field. Having a reliable audio-visual system at our college farm ensures students can fully engage in demonstrations, understand complex concepts, and safely participate in activities. It also allows us to better serve our partners, who rely on our facilities for meetings and field events. We are incredibly grateful to PACGDC for investing in this important educational resource.”
Iowa Lakes Community College extends its appreciation to the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation for their ongoing commitment to education, workforce development, and community growth across Palo Alto County.