CNH Industrial and Case Construction Equipment’s Burlington, Iowa, plant have donated a Case 580N backhoe loader to Southeastern Community College.

The college’s construction technology and agriculture programs will use the backhoe for student training and instruction as well as special class projects. More specifically, it will be used to show students how to operate and properly maintain a piece of heavy equipment. Agriculture students also will use the machine for soil sampling and demonstrations on trenching in drainage tile.

Steve Van Zant, CNH Industrial plant manager, and Jeff Stewart, CNH Industrial platform and product development manager of the backhoe division, presented the backhoe to the college and its president, Michael Ash, in front of a crowd of SCC students and staff, and CNH Industrial employees.

“We understand the importance of a donation like this for both Southeastern Community College and CNH Industrial,” said Stewart. “This equipment will allow students to gain firsthand experience working with our equipment and can lead to future careers in construction or agricultural. We employ graduates in a number of welding and assembly areas, and myself and Steve Van Zant are both graduates of Southeastern Community College. That education helped start us on our careers.”

This is the first time CNH Industrial and Case have made an equipment donation to the college. The company has donated funds in recent years, including $10,000 for new welding equipment.

For more information on Case, visit CaseCE.com. For more information on Southeastern Community College, visit SCCIowa.com.