Ag Dedication & Award to Mike Austin
Fox Valley Technical College’s expanded agriculture center, the now-called Service Motor Company Agriculture Center, was one of the results of the April 2012 passage of the college’s public referendum.
Service Motor Company's partnership with FVTC’s agriculture-related programs spans more than 30 years. The company’s most recent collaboration with FVTC takes shape in naming rights, in exchange for a $1.1 million gift in the form of scholarships, equipment, and monetary support.
The training center houses new high-tech labs and expanded classes to accommodate an 87% enrollment jump over the past five years in all of FVTC’s agri-business programs, as well as the agriculture power equipment, outdoor power equipment, and horticulture programs.
As part of a recent dedication ceremony for the expanded facility, FVTC recognized the incredible contributions of Mike Austin, the "voice of agriculture" for more than 30 years in northeastern Wisconsin. Mr. Austin’s agriculture reports and stories can be heard regularly on WTAQ and seen on WFRV, and his advocacy for the agriculture industry reaches all ages and is felt within a spectrum of related organizations.
Randy Tenpas, agriculture instructor at FVTC, presented Mr. Austin with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to agriculture education and training on behalf of the college’s President Dr. Susan May and the entire agriculture team.
Congratulations, Mike, and thanks for your ongoing contributions to both agriculture and ag training at FVTC!