MCC's new agriculture program has successful first year

McHenry County College is getting ready to welcome a new crop of Entrepreneurial Agriculture students this fall.

The program, which trained its first group of students last year, is designed to prepare both degree-seeking students and food and farm innovators for a successful and rewarding future in the regional food economy.

"Our students are gaining direct, hands-on experience all the way from seed to sales," said Emily Zack, farm practicum director at MCC. "This spring, our 'Intro to Farm Practicum' class started seeds in the greenhouse, planted in one of our high tunnels, and harvested for an on-campus pop-up farm stand.

"Students in another class interviewed local and regional agriculture professionals to learn more about opportunities in the industry. The program really gives students a taste of what it's like to work in the food and farming economy."

The group also regularly provides produce to the MCC Café and Culinary program, and will be starting a weekly on-campus farm stand to showcase their produce.

"This will be structured like we are heading to a market," said Zack. "We will harvest, wash, bag, weigh, and display the morning of the stand."