Lake City Bank donates $2,500 to ag program
FOR RELEASE: Thursday, October 16, 2014
HUNTINGTON, Ind. Lake City Bank has given Huntington University a $2,500 donation to support the college's new Institute for Agricultural Studies."Helping Huntington University launch an agriculture program is just one way Lake City Bank can support the ag industry in Indiana," said Joe Kessie, the bank's senior vice president. "Agriculture is very important to Lake City Bank and is one of the largest loan concentrations we have."
Kessie serves on the university's Agriculture Task Force, a group that began meeting in December 2013.
"We are blessed to have the ongoing support of partners like Lake City Bank," said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. "Joe Kessie has been an integral part of our agriculture task force and has worked tirelessly to help us launch the Institute for Agricultural Studies."
Kessie added that he has a personal stake in the success of the institute.
"With my personal passion and dedication to serving our agri-business community, I was excited to serve on Huntington University's Agriculture Task Force," he said. "I believe the university can fulfill a need that is currently not being met in our part of the Corn Belt, which is to provide a high-quality academic program in agriculture in a liberal arts, faith-based environment. There are huge opportunities in all parts of agriculture since it is one of the strongest segments of our economy, and a high percentage of the current professionals in this industry are older than 55. The ag industry needs the well-rounded college graduates that Huntington University can produce."
Launched in the fall of 2014, the Institute for Agricultural Studies at Huntington University promotes a Christian perspective on agriculture, which recognizes a responsibility to be good stewards of God's creation and to examine questions of sustainability and justice.
The agribusiness program, which is under development, is intended to meet the growing need for agribusiness professionals and is anticipated to include concentrations in business innovation and entrepreneurship, communication and public policy, crop production, agricultural education, and ministry and missions.
For more information about the program, log on to www.huntington.edu/agriculture.
