As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country, Land O’Lakes is doing its part to help people feel connected.
Literally.
Based in Arden Hills, the member-owned agricultural cooperative has started offering free Wi-Fi to various rural communities across the country that might not otherwise have access.
It’s an initiative Land O’Lakes has been talking about for awhile, according to Chief Technology Officer Teddy Bekele. And with everyone shifting to life online during the COVID-19 crisis, the digital divide in rural communities has been further exacerbated.
“We decided we needed to do something immediately and one of the easiest steps we could take was to turn the guest Wi-Fi on at our locations so people could come to the parking lot and use it there,” Bekele said. “We have also encouraged a lot of our ag retailers to do the same.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Land O’Lakes and the rest of its network is now offering free Wi-Fi at about 120 locations spanning 14 states. That number will likely increase in the coming weeks.
In Minnesota, Land O’Lakes has turned on the guest Wi-Fi at its Melrose, Pine Island, and Winthrop locations. Additionally, Belgrade Cooperative has activated in Belgrade; Crystal Valley Cooperative has followed suit in Darfur, Trimont, and Waldorf; and United Farmers Cooperative has done the same in Maple Plain, Waconia, and Winthrop.
“When someone drives by the location there’s a sign that says ‘Free Wi-Fi’ and they can pull into the parking lot,” Bekele explained. “We have designated spaces so people don’t have to get out of their car and we make sure that each parking spot can access the connectivity there.”
This initiative will be offered for the next couple of months, according to a Land O’Lakes spokesperson, and there is a willingness to expand if the need is there.
There’s also hope among Land O’Lakes that it can be a trailblazer of sorts, serving as an example for other companies that want to make an impact in rural communities.
“We see this as an opportunity to show that this is a problem that does exist,” Bekele said. “We are encouraging any business with a footprint across these rural communities to do the same thing. … We can all work together to make a difference.”
