By Jeanette Siemens
Submitted article
Special to the Tribune

The Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, along with the Pratt County Extension Office, sponsored a program entitled, The State of Agriculture in Pratt County on Wednesday, November 20 at the Pratt County 4-H Building. Other sponsors included Next GINeration Cotton Gin, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Lisa’s Western Wear, Wheat State Cattle Company, Pratt Glass/Superior Fire, Kanza Coop, and Ninnescah Rural Electric, SC Telcom, Walmart and Scoular Grain. The program which featured local school-connected agriculture groups and a special Kansas crop specialist was attended by many farmers and ranchers from the area, as well as others in the community.

Presentations were made concerning the FFA programs at both Pratt and Skyline Schools and the PCC Ag Tech Program. Programs include training that focuses on the necessary skills, animal science, and planning to name just a few necessary in farming and ranching.

Pratt Community College representatives highlighted the three degrees offered as part of the Ag program. There are also several ancillary programs that are also necessary with the Ag program. One is for obtaining a CDL, which is hard to get but necessary in the ag business. The Deisel program which includes Ag Power Technology, the Electrical Lineman program, and Welding are all individually important but also connected to the Ag industry. The Ag classes attract a large enrollment. There is classroom study as well as “on the job” training. Wildlife and Outdoor Operations (WOO programs) are part of ag training as well. PCC attracts a large enrollment in the ag classes, much of which if prompted by the very successful rodeo program.

Representative from Pratt County Extension and Ag Agent, Jenna Fitzsimmons talked about local 4-H Youth Development. She said that 4-H engages young people in learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

KSRE speaker Dr. Dan O’Brien talked about grain futures for Pratt County and grain market predictions for the coming year.

As a regional trade center with a good draw to local businesses, Pratt provides the area with top-notch hospital, college, farm and cattle businesses and other amenities that help make a positive impact on the local economy in many ways. The Ag Community is a driving factor in regional success and quality of life for those living in Pratt County and the surrounding counties.