Merced College Named National Finalist for Bellwether Award for Innovation in Workforce Development

By: James Leonard for Merced College

Merced College has been selected as one of 10 national finalists in the Workforce Development category for the 2026 Bellwether Awards, one of the most prestigious honors recognizing innovation, excellence, and scalable best practices among community colleges across the United States.

The college was nominated for its AgTEC Workforce Initiative, the development of the AgTEC Innovation Center, and its partnership with Reservoir Farms. Together, these efforts represent a comprehensive workforce ecosystem designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in agriculture and agricultural technology while strengthening the regional economy.

The Bellwether Awards recognize community colleges that address critical challenges in higher education through forward-thinking programs that demonstrate measurable outcomes and national replicability. As a finalist, Merced College will present its work to community college leaders, policymakers, and industry experts from across the country.

“This recognition reflects the vision, collaboration, and commitment of our faculty, staff, students, and industry partners,” Merced College President Chris Vitelli said. “The AgTEC Workforce Initiative and AgTEC Innovation Center exemplify how Merced College is aligning education with workforce needs while creating meaningful opportunities for students and supporting economic growth throughout the Central Valley. Being named a Bellwether finalist affirms the national impact of this work.”

The AgTEC Innovation Center is a 22,000+ square-foot, state-of-the-art workforce training and applied learning facility scheduled to open in late 2026. Designed in direct collaboration with industry, the center will feature dedicated nut processing, fruit and vegetable processing, meat processing, nutrition and product development labs, along with food safety and sanitation rooms and a year-round farm market. The facility will provide students with hands-on experience using industry-relevant equipment that mirrors real-world operations, supporting workforce upskilling, applied learning, and innovation across the agricultural and food systems sectors.

The AgTEC Workforce Initiative is focused on creating accessible, industry-aligned education and training pathways that respond to evolving workforce demands. Through the college’s partnership with Reservoir Farms, students will gain exposure to AgTech innovation, automation, and real-world applications that extend learning beyond the classroom and into operational environments.

“This recognition validates years of intentional planning and collaboration to build a workforce model that is truly driven by industry needs and student opportunity,” said Cody Jacobsen, Dean of Agriculture & Industrial Technology at Merced College. “Through AgTEC, the Innovation Center, and our partnership with Reservoir Farms, we are creating clear, hands-on pathways that lead to high-quality careers while positioning Merced College as a national leader in agricultural and AgTech workforce development.”

Finalists will formally present their projects and the Bellwether Award winners will be announced at the 2026 Community College Futures Assembly, taking place in San Antonio from Feb. 22-24.

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