Students in Lethbridge College’s agricultural and heavy equipment technician program will be able to get their hands on some leading-edge technology thanks to a gift from the Hanlon Ag Centre.

The Lethbridge equipment dealer is providing equipment, installation and training on its precision agriculture system — a CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station) network. It uses satellite data to improve the precision of positioning of equipment in a variety of industries. The gift, valued at $100,000, also includes installing a receiver in an on-campus tractor.

Since 2004, Hanlon Ag Centre has given almost $300,000 worth of sponsorship, equipment, gift-in-kind and financial contributions to the college.

The company has hired 19 college alumni over the years and currently has four college apprentices on staff.