**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION PROGRAM WHICH WILL TRAIN STUDENTS IN AREAS RELATED TO CUSTOM APPLICATION OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS. AGRONOMY RELATED AGRIBUSINESSES WOULD EMPLOY STUDENTS OF THIS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WOULD ATTRACT VARIOUS GROUPS OF PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING THOSE LOOKING FOR SPECIFIC INDUSTRY TRAINING IN CUSTOM APPLICATOR; THOSE INTERESTED IN ONLINE COURSES DUE TO PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES; AND STUDENTS INTERESTED SPECIFICALLY IN OPERATION OF A CUSTOM APPLICATOR (HERBICIDE, FUNGICIDE, FERTILIZER) AND NOT MORE IN-DEPTH COLLEGE DEGREE PROGRAM. IT WOULD ALSO BE OF INTEREST TO THOSE LOOKING TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR ON-FARM INCOME WITH A HIGH-PAYING, SHORT-TERM JOB.THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IN CUSTOM AGRICULTURE APPLICATOR WHICH WOULD ALLOW ONLINE INSTRUCTION AND INTENSIVE HANDS ON INDUSTRY TRAINING ACCOMPLISHED WITH TWO PRIMARY COMPONENTS:1. DEVELOP A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES ONLINE INSTRUCTION IN PRECISION AGRICULTURE, AGRONOMY/FERTILITY BASICS, AGRICULTURE MATH CONCEPTS, AND INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS (PESTICIDE, EQUIPMENT).2. DEVELOP AN INDUSTRY TRAINING COMPONENT WHICH INCLUDES WORKING WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO APPLY THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE BY RECEIVING HANDS ON TRAINING ON APPLICATOR EQUIPMENT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.THIS WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM WILL TRAIN STUDENTS FOR A HIGH DEMAND JOB AS A CUSTOM APPLICATOR (PROJECTED TO GROW 8 PERCENT FROM 2016 TO 2026). ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS WILL OBTAIN COMPREHENSION OF THE CONCEPTS, PHILOSOPHY, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OPERATION OF SPRAY EQUIPMENT AND THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES OR FERTILIZER.