Hoven High School receives a $1,700 grant for land surveying equipment

Hoven High School has received a $1,700 Working Here Fund grant to buy land surveying equipment for course work in fundamental ag structures technology. The grant is provided through Farm Credit Services of America’s (FCSAmerica) Working Here Fund.

Hoven High School students enrolled in the course will complete three projects related to land surveying: building surveying, profile surveying and concrete surveying. Students will determine the elevation at various locations around the high school and on the football field. They also will develop plans for a concrete pad and parking lot.

“South Dakota’s workforce faces a shortage of certified electricians, plumbers, contractors and mechanics,” said Sara Colombe, an agriculture education teacher at Hoven High School. “These projects encourage students to use critical thinking, math, organization, communication and interpersonal skills. These skills will prepare them for these careers after high school and meet this community need.”

Hoven High School will begin offering the fundamental ag structures technology course in the fall of 2015. It will use the Working Here Fund grant for the purchase of a builder’s level system and rotary laser level.

“We are committed to supporting the agricultural communities we serve,” said Terry Fjeldheim, vice president of FCSAmerica’s Mobridge office. “The opportunity to help educate the future generation is a lifelong investment in rural America.”

Hoven High School is one of 82 organizations to receive a Working Here Fund grant in the first quarter of 2015. FCSAmerica awarded $135,000 during the latest grant cycle ending March 31, 2015.