By: Ryan Duey
This week Clay Center Middle School (CCCMS) students are taking advantage of a unique experience. Central Valley Ag (CVA) has brought in a sprayer simulator, offering students a chance to practice spraying fields and maneuvering through towns in a virtual setting.
CCCMS Counselor Nick Brummet said he reached out to CVA as part of the school’s Career Chat Program.
“Caleb Davis was the one who came in and spoke to a group of our 8th graders earlier in the year during the Career Chat Program. He spoke about internships and job shadow opportunities and just other things that they do.”
“Then a couple of weeks ago Wendy from CVA reached out to me and said that they had their simulator available and that they could bring it in for students to kind of practice virtually. Students can practice spraying fields, driving around, or doing those kinds of things.”
The simulator offers the students different levels, from beginner to experienced, practicing driving on roads, spraying fields, maneuvering the sprayer, and more. Brummet said it has become extremely popular with the students.
“There has actually been a long line of students, and a lot of students are wanting to do it multiple times. I wasn’t quite sure if it would be popular, but it has been very popular.”
“Students can get on it and practice maneuvering a spray rig. It actually shows the students in color what they’ve sprayed and if they’ve sprayed too much, too little, things like that.”
“A lot of our kids are really into agriculture, and so I would say what I’ve really enjoyed is watching a group of probably 10 to 15 sixth-grade boys who, you can tell live like on a farm and have probably actually been in a spray rig before. It’s been fun because they’ve actually taught me things. It’s been really, really, really popular.”
Brummet said the simulator is very educational, along with very fun for the students and adults alike, allowing students of many different backgrounds an opportunity to learn a little about agriculture in a virtual setting.
