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Western Dakota Technical College Learn. Do. Now.

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Farm & Ranch Management

Farm and Ranch Management is an innovative program providing education through hands-on, real-world scenarios. Students will discover new and timeless production practices, build a business and marketing plan, research sustainable agriculture techniques, and more in order to prepare them for bright futures.

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Degree Description

Associate in Applied Science

This four-semester Associate of Applied Science degree program will prepare students who plan to run farms and ranches and those who wish to enter industries that support agriculture, including equipment sales, commodity organizations, and government. This program includes classroom theory and hands-on experience that allows students to practice what they learn in the classroom and apply it to future job scenarios. The Farm and Ranch Management degree program covers necessities of being an agriculturalist, including; agronomy, range and pasture management, animal science, soils, entomology, business, and more. Students will visit farm and ranch operations and agricultural businesses to apply what they learn and build connections with potential future stakeholders.

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Application Process

1. Complete Western Dakota Technical College Admissions Application
2. Complete the ACCUPLACER test ($15 fee)
3. Schedule your Admissions Advising Session
4. Provide an official copy of a High School transcript or GED scores. If you graduated from an international high school, you must submit your transcript to Educational Credential Evaluators to determine U.S. equivalence.
5. Submit Immunization Records verifying two doses of MMR vaccinations
6. Once you receive your acceptance letter, schedule a time to register for classes

The ACCUPLACER test will be waived if you have an ACT sub-score of 18 or better in English, Math, and Reading.  To waive the ACCUPLACER with SAT scores a student will need a 500 on the MATH subsection of ACT and a composite of 970 to waive Writing and Reading. To place into MATH 114 a student will need a 520 on the MATH subsection.  

Please call 605-718-2565 to make an appointment.

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Career Description

Farm and Ranch Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, or other agricultural establishments. They may engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, and harvesting of crops, and the general care of livestock. Managers monitor pasture or grazing land use to ensure that livestock are properly fed and that sustainable conservation practices are being used.

Farm and Ranch Managers oversee their operations’ finances, and assist in marketing produced goods. They negotiate with buyers for the sale, storage, or shipment of crops or livestock. These managers are stewards of the land, and advocates for the agricultural industry. Farm and Ranch Managers are well-rounded, and ready to take on any task in the agricultural field with their well-developed critical thinking skills.

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General Education EMT

After Earning Your Degree

Farm and Ranch Managers are well-rounded, and able to fulfill jobs across the agricultural industry. Farm and Ranch Managers supervise all steps of livestock and/or crop production, maintain business property, determine the best methods of production for their crops and/or livestock, and serve as a promoter for their operations. Graduates of this degree program may also work in a variety of other agriculture businesses, from sales to support organizations. The median annual salary for a Farm and Ranch Manager is $67,950.

Meet Your Faculty

Western Dakota Technical College has a low student-to-faculty ratio, meaning more one-on-one learning. Individual attention from your professor can make your college experience more fulfilling.


  • Abbie Barber

Financial Aid

Continuing your education is crucial and Western Dakota Technical College wants to make sure that any student who wants to attend school, has the opportunity to do so. For this reason, WDTC is dedicated to administering the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IV Financial Assistance Program fair and consistently to anyone who needs it.

Build Dakota Scholarships

The Build Dakota Scholarship at Western Dakota Technical College will pay all your tuition and fees and prepare you for a career that is in-demand and growing in South Dakota. Build Dakota Scholarships will be awarded to students entering high-need workforce programs at South Dakota’s technical institutes to fill the state’s technical careers with skilled professionals.

Student Housing

Finding affordable housing during school can be a challenge for students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not have on-campus housing, but partners with a Rapid City VRBO to offer a limited number of apartments for full-time students in the fall and spring semesters.


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Child Care

Finding child care during school is a challenge for many students. Western Dakota Technical College currently does not offer on-campus child care, but here are some resources that may help you in your search.

Youth & Family Services is an organization dedicated to helping children in Western South Dakota. They offer a variety of services, including child care at multiple locations.

The Y of Rapid City offers child care and other services.

Disclaimer: Western Dakota Technical College provides these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply affiliation, endorsement or adoption by Western Dakota Technical College of any site or any information contained therein. When you leave wdt.edu, you should be aware that our terms and policies no longer govern. Western Dakota Technical College makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature or reliability of third-party websites or vendors.

WESTERN DAKOTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE MISSION
Western Dakota Technical College prepares students to be highly-skilled professionals through accessible, career-focused programs to improve their lives, while adapting to community workforce needs and positively impacting our economy.

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