There was time to look out in front of you and consider the future of agriculture — in a tractor that, normally, you’d be focused on aiming and driving through your fields.
But the red tractor that a group of students from Henderson County High School matched up to a line on a computer screen on Wednesday wasn’t your father’s farming instrument.
It was geared toward the 21st century, with a roughly $7,000 GPS system and an auto-guidance drive that meant straight lines were straight — no ifs, ands or buts about it.
“They claim it will pay for itself on skips,” said Jamie Waller, a senior who was describing the bare places on the field where farmers might have unknowingly gotten too close or too far from their last planting. “That one is boom, boom, boom ... perfect.”
The 17-year-old was one of many who got to drive the tractor on a bare field as part of the Henderson Community College Agriculture Recruiting Day which, thanks to Agricultural Technology Program Director Laura Winstead, was set to deliver a campus tour, lunch and games as well.
Even for those whose ultimate goal is not to work in agriculture, the day away from County High was still an opportunity for growth.
Senior Beth Ann Denton is in agricultural classes at the high school, but she came to The Hill on Wednesday because she was hoping to learn more about the college campus.
She hopes to be an elementary school teacher but will minor in agriculture in college.
“It’s my first time here,” added her friend, Erin Jones, after she went for a ride in the tractor. “I like it because it’s smaller.”
The 17-year-old hadn’t been in a tractor since she was around 7 years old, so her ride on Wednesday was particularly unique, she said.
“It was smooth and wasn’t very complicated to use,” added Neal Reburn, a senior. “It’s more advanced than a regular standard tractor. It pretty much did all the work, and it saves a lot of fuel.”
It will also save a lot of time, said Warren Blake and Evan Baird, both seniors.
Blake added that the GPS unit can help a tractor plant on an incline to maximize growing space.
The GPS unit also allows farmers to clearly and accurately determine the spacing in between rows even on uneven ground, Baird added.
“It’s more efficient,” Blake said.
Rodman Meacham, a sales associate with H&R Agri-Power in Morganfield, assisted the students when they drove the tractor.
The Trimble GPS system, which the students used on Wednesday, is one of the leaders in navigation, he said, and the company has tailored many of its products to agriculture.
A free GPS signal is available for farmers, but they have to pay for a more accurate system, Meacham said.
Clay Wells, an agriculture teacher at the high school, said the tractor opened up students’ eyes to some of the technology that is being used in farming these days.
“Most of the kids haven’t seen it before,” he said of what he described as a growing field in agriculture.
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The agricultural technology program at Henderson Community College prepares students for entry into the field of agriculture and related occupations.
Topics covered include fertilizers and soils, animal science, agricultural equipment, machines and engines, agricultural power, issues in agriculture and crop production.
Students can receive an agricultural technician certificate or an associate in applied science degree.
For more information, contact Laura Winstead, agricultural technology program coordinator, at 831-9720.
