LATC Ag Students Gain Life-Saving CPR Training Through Corteva Grant
WATERTOWN, S.D. — Lake Area Technical College (LATC) recently received a $5,000 grant from Corteva Agriscience to support the integration of CPR certification into its agriculture safety curriculum, building life-saving skills among students preparing for careers in agriculture.
“Agriculture is a hands-on and, at times, high-risk industry. Emergencies on farms and ranches or in agribusinesses demand quick responses. By embedding CPR training, we’re ensuring every graduate is prepared to step in, take action, and care for the people around them,” said Tiffany Sanderson, LATC president. “We are grateful for Corteva’s partnership and shared commitment to advancing agricultural education.”
The grant allowed LATC to incorporate hands-on CPR certification into its AGR 105 Ag Safety course, a required class for all first-year agriculture students. Students are trained in farm safety, accident prevention and emergency preparedness. Sixty-five students completed certification in adult and child CPR before beginning their internships across the Upper Midwest.
“At Corteva, we believe strong communities are built through education, opportunity and a shared commitment to safety,” said Becky McGillivary, crop protection territory manager for northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. “By supporting programs like this at Lake Area Technical College, we helped enable students to build skills that strengthen the agricultural workforce and improve the well-being of rural communities.”
Corteva Agriscience is a global agriculture company dedicated to enriching the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Through community investments and partnerships, Corteva supports initiatives that advance agricultural education, promote safety and strengthen rural communities.
About LATC
Founded in 1965, Lake Area Technical College serves nearly 2,800 students and offers more than 30 career-focused programs designed to meet workforce needs. The college has a 99.8 percent placement rate, with most graduates choosing to live and work in South Dakota.
Lake Area Tech’s mission is to provide superior, comprehensive technical education that changes lives and launches careers. The college received the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, recognizing it as the top two-year college in the nation. For more information and to apply, visit: www.lakeareatech.edu.
Photo 1 Caption (CPR Training Action Shot)
Lake Area Technical College students practice adult CPR techniques during a hands-on training session in Watertown, S.D. Over 65 first-year agriculture students completed certification in adult and child CPR as part of the college’s AGR 105 Ag Safety course, supported by a grant from Corteva Agriscience.
Photo 2 Caption (Check Presentation Group Photo)
Becky McGillivary, Corteva Agriscience crop protection territory manager, presents a $5,000 check to Lake Area Technical College students, faculty and staff on Feb. 13, 2026, in Watertown, S.D. The funding supports the integration of CPR certification into the college’s agriculture safety curriculum, helping prepare students with life-saving skills for the agricultural workforce.
Receiving the check are (left to right): Benjamin Schilmoeller of Omaha, Neb.; McGillivary; Kyleigh Englund of Groton, S.D.; Presley Binger of Hitchcock, S.D.; Logan Severson of Onida, S.D.; Hayden Talsma of Avon, S.D.; LATC agriculture instructor Brian Henrichs; LATC president Tiffany Sanderson; and LATC business partner specialist and CPR instructor Heidi Wirtjes.