Rural Development Grants Enable Online Learning
The USDA has taken a step in the right direction by enabling people in small communities to earn their degrees online. Students are currently using USDA grant money to earn distance learning degrees in agricultural science and agricultural engineering, ultimately using their educations to enhance their family farms.
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According to Hawaiian newspaper Maui News, Maui Community College just received a grant from the USDA to buy laptops for Native Hawaiian students who couldn't attend class because they had relatives that needed them at home. According to the newspaper, The USDA's rural development program has awarded 79 distance learning and telemedicine grants totaling more that $29.4 million.
Online Learning Vital to Rural Students
These grants went to rural communities in 36 states. Many of these states have long agricultural traditions where family farms are passed on through the generations. Unfortunately, many children growing up in these family farms live far away from state colleges, and have too many responsibilities at the farm to live in a college dorm full-time. With this new grant money, those children are able to earn their degrees from home by taking distance learning classes.Online Degrees Help Students Land Agricultural Jobs
Many of these students take advantage of USDA grants to earn their degrees in agricultural science or agricultural engineering. They use their education to help implement cutting edge technology and utilize best practices on their own farms. Many also take their experience at home and their newly earned degree to find high paying agricultural jobs.These USDA grants are helping rural Americans become better farmers and find good jobs, which is exactly what good government is designed to accomplish.
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About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University.
