Evening on the Farm celebrates student success, agriculture innovation at Ivy Tech Lafayette

Ivy Tech Community College Lafayette welcomed community and industry partners to the Bane Agriculture Technology Center on September 10 for its annual Evening on the Farm, an event supporting agriculture education and student success at the College.

First held in 2008, Evening on the Farm was created around a simple idea: when the community comes together to invest in students, both students and the region benefit. Today, support generated through the event helps provide scholarships, student resources and hands-on learning opportunities while also supporting investments in technology, equipment and learning spaces. 

The evening included remarks from Ivy Tech Lafayette Chancellor Dr. Aaron Baute, an update on the College’s Agriculture program from Program Chair Kraig Bowers, scholarship recognition and a keynote presentation from Ankita Raturi, assistant professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University. 

Raturi leads Purdue’s Agricultural Informatics Lab, where her work focuses on the intersection of agriculture and technology, including human-computer interaction, information architecture and software engineering to increase resilience in food and agricultural systems. Her current research includes decision-support tools, agricultural data services, soil health management technologies and diversified farming systems. 

Investing in the next generation of agriculture

Evening on the Farm also celebrated Ivy Tech students receiving scholarships made possible by agriculture organizations, businesses and community supporters.

Students were recognized through scholarships supported by Bio Town Agriculture, Keystone Cooperative, Clinton County Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid-America, Remington Farms, Tippecanoe County Farm Bureau and others. 

That support comes at an important time for the agriculture industry. During the 2024-25 academic year, 155 students were enrolled in Ivy Tech Lafayette’s Agriculture and Precision Agriculture Technology programs, with more than 40 credentials awarded. At the same time, the region has 467 agriculture-related jobs in demand and a projected talent gap of 423 workers.  

Ivy Tech Lafayette is preparing students to fill that need by combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience, industry partnerships and emerging agricultural technology.

Innovation taking root

Guests at Evening on the Farm also learned about several new investments and initiatives within Ivy Tech Lafayette’s Agriculture program.

Students are gaining experience with precision agriculture technologies including Solinftec’s Solix Autonomous Sprayer and See & Spray technology for seasonal weed control. The program has also added crop production equipment, including a new tractor and combine, to give students hands-on experience with equipment used in today’s agriculture industry. 

The program is expanding its work in conservation and applied research as well, including a new project examining how conservation practices affect field drainage and water quality. Ivy Tech is also partnering with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to host field days focused on innovative conservation agriculture practices. 

In addition, Kenny Stockdale has joined the department as its full-time farm manager, providing dedicated leadership for the College farm and supporting student learning experiences. 

Together, those investments reflect Ivy Tech Lafayette’s commitment to preparing students for an agriculture industry that increasingly combines traditional knowledge with advanced equipment, data, technology and conservation practices.

Evening on the Farm is made possible through the support of community and industry partners, including Partner Sponsors Farm Credit Mid-America and Keystone Cooperative, along with additional agriculture scholarship sponsors and contributors. 

Ivy Tech Lafayette’s Agriculture program offers hands-on learning and industry-connected education designed to prepare students for careers in agriculture and related fields. Learn more about Agriculture at Ivy Tech at ivytech.edu/agriculture.