Lake Area Tech Ag Students Gain Critical CPR Certification Through Corteva Agriscience Partnership

Becky McGillivary, Corteva Agriscience crop protection territory manager, presents a $5,000 check to Lake Area Technical College students, faculty, and staff in Watertown, S.D. The funding supports the integration of CPR certification into the college’s agriculture safety curriculum, helping prepare students with life-saving skills for the agricultural workforce. (Left to right): Benjamin Schilmoeller of Omaha, Neb.; McGillivary; Kyleigh Englund of Groton, S.D.; Presley Binger of Hitchcock, S.D.; Logan Severson of Onida, S.D.; Hayden Talsma of Avon, S.D.; LATC agriculture instructor Brian Henrichs; LATC president Tiffany Sanderson; and LATC business partner specialist and CPR instructor Heidi Wirtjes.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Agriculture remains one of the most vital yet inherently high-risk industries in the Midwest. Recognizing the critical importance of rapid emergency response on farms, ranches, and agribusinesses, Lake Area Technical College (LATC) has partnered with Corteva Agriscience to arm the next generation of agricultural professionals with vital, life-saving skills.

Through a recent $5,000 grant from Corteva Agriscience, LATC has successfully integrated comprehensive, hands-on CPR certification directly into its AGR 105 Ag Safety course. The class is a mandatory requirement for all first-year agriculture students, ensuring that baseline safety competency is established the moment students begin their academic and professional journeys.

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“Agriculture is a hands-on and, at times, high-risk industry. Emergencies on farms and ranches or in agribusinesses demand quick responses. By embedding CPR training, we’re ensuring every graduate is prepared to step in, take action, and care for the people around them.” — Tiffany Sanderson, President of Lake Area Technical College

The enhanced safety curriculum focuses heavily on practical emergency preparedness, farm safety protocols, and accident prevention. This semester, 65 agriculture students completed their official certifications in both adult and child CPR. The timing of the training is particularly strategic. These students achieved certification just before departing for their professional summer internships across the Upper Midwest, where they will immediately reinforce the agricultural workforce.

Corteva Agriscience, a global leader in agricultural innovation, funded the initiative as part of its broader corporate commitment to enriching rural communities, promoting occupational safety, and expanding educational opportunities.

“At Corteva, we believe strong communities are built through education, opportunity, and a shared commitment to safety. By supporting programs like this at Lake Area Technical College, we helped enable students to build skills that strengthen the agricultural workforce and improve the well-being of rural communities.” — Becky McGillivary, Crop Protection Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience.

ake Area Technical College students practice adult CPR techniques during a hands-on training session in Watertown, S.D. Over 65 first-year agriculture students completed certification in adult and child CPR as part of the college’s AGR 105 Ag Safety course, supported by a grant from Corteva Agriscience.

The integration of professional CPR standards aligns seamlessly with LATC’s decades-long track record of workforce readiness and community impact. Founded in 1965, the college serves nearly 2,800 students across more than 30 career-focused programs explicitly designed to meet evolving industry needs.

LATC’s rigorous educational standards have earned national acclaim, most notably the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, which recognized it as the top two-year college in the nation. The institution boasts an extraordinary 99.8 percent graduate placement rate, with the vast majority of its alumni choosing to remain, live, and work within South Dakota.

With this newly implemented safety standard, LATC and Corteva Agriscience are establishing a new benchmark for agricultural education, proving that comprehensive professional preparation extends far beyond operational expertise to safeguard the lives and well-being of rural communities.