Two Mississippi Delta Community College students will be spending their summer gaining hands-on experience in precision agriculture thanks to paid research positions made possible through a grant from the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board.
Colby Dreher of Cleveland and Kendrix Burnside Jr. of Hollandale were selected as summer student workers through MDCC’s recently awarded $44,695 MSPB grant supporting irrigation efficiency research in soybean production.
The grant-funded project, titled “Using On-Farm Weather Stations to Improve Irrigation Efficiency and Environmental Monitoring in Mississippi Soybean Production,” allows students to gain paid, hands-on experience while assisting with real-world agricultural research at MDCC’s agriculture test plots.
Dreher said his interest in agriculture developed after gaining firsthand exposure to farm life.
“I married into a farming family and quickly learned how much work and dedication goes into farming,” Dreher said. “The more I learned, the more I realized it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”
A Precision Agriculture major at MDCC, Dreher said he looks forward to expanding his knowledge this summer through direct field experience.
“I’m excited to learn more about the soil moisture meters and see the crops grow on the MDCC farm,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to spending time with my classmates and learning alongside them this summer.”
After graduating from MDCC, Dreher plans to attend Mississippi State University to study agricultural sciences before returning to his family farm.
“My goal is to continue my education and eventually return to the family farm,” Dreher said. “I hope to one day build something I can pass down to future generations.”
Source : msdelta.edu