MDCC agriculture students gain hands-on experience through soybean research grant positions

MOORHEAD, Miss. (May 7, 2026) — Two Mississippi Delta Community College students will be spending their summer gaining hands-on experience in precision agriculture thanks to paid research positions made possible through a grant from the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board.

Colby Dreher of Cleveland and Kendrix Burnside Jr. of Hollandale were selected as summer student workers through MDCC’s recently awarded $44,695 MSPB grant supporting irrigation efficiency research in soybean production.

The grant-funded project, titled “Using On-Farm Weather Stations to Improve Irrigation Efficiency and Environmental Monitoring in Mississippi Soybean Production,” allows students to gain paid, hands-on experience while assisting with real-world agricultural research at MDCC’s agriculture test plots.

Dreher said his interest in agriculture developed after gaining firsthand exposure to farm life.

“I married into a farming family and quickly learned how much work and dedication goes into farming,” Dreher said. “The more I learned, the more I realized it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”

A Precision Agriculture major at MDCC, Dreher said he looks forward to expanding his knowledge this summer through direct field experience.

“I’m excited to learn more about the soil moisture meters and see the crops grow on the MDCC farm,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to spending time with my classmates and learning alongside them this summer.”

After graduating from MDCC, Dreher plans to attend Mississippi State University to study agricultural sciences before returning to his family farm.

“My goal is to continue my education and eventually return to the family farm,” Dreher said. “I hope to one day build something I can pass down to future generations.”

Dreher said the opportunity is a perfect fit for his passion for agriculture.

“I enjoy being outdoors and watching crops grow,” he said. “This experience gives me the chance to do what I love while continuing to learn.”

Burnside, also a Precision Agriculture major, said farming has been his dream since childhood.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to be a farmer,” Burnside said. “As a first-generation farmer, that dream has pushed me to work hard and build a successful future in agriculture.”

This summer, Burnside is eager to work with emerging agricultural technologies.

“I’m looking forward to using the new soil moisture meters and learning more about how they track rainfall and help farmers make better decisions,” he said.

Burnside said his experiences at MDCC have inspired him to continue his education at Mississippi State University after graduation.

“My goal is to attend Mississippi State and continue studying precision agriculture,” Burnside said. “Mr. Robbins has introduced us to so many tools and techniques in the field, and that experience made me want to continue pursuing this career path.”

Steele Robbins, MDCC Precision Agriculture instructor and principal investigator for the grant project, said providing students with opportunities like these is a key part of the program’s mission.

“This project gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world agricultural challenges,” Robbins said. “They’re gaining experience with cutting-edge technology while contributing to research that could help Mississippi producers improve efficiency and conserve resources.”

Through the project, students will assist with monitoring irrigation systems, collecting field data and learning how weather-based irrigation decisions can reduce water use, lower production costs and improve sustainability for producers across the Mississippi Delta.

For both students, the opportunity represents more than summer employment — it’s a chance to build careers in agriculture while gaining valuable experience close to home.

Learn more about our Precision Agriculture program