The John Deere company-introduction video opens with submersed air bubbles racing upward, tagging the film as a production of Lakeside High School.

The video incorporates panning shots of John Deere's Grovetown facility, graphics, employee interviews and narration by Lakeside band director Jim Tau to create a polished and highly praised film.

"Everyone who has seen it has been very impressed by the results," said Michael Canady, the Columbia County school system's director of technology education.

The video is the first substantial result of a partnership between the school system and the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's Manufacturer's Council.

Along with Augusta Technical College and the National Science Center, the groups plan to introduce programs that will create a more qualified work force and excite students about technological careers.

"It's the first tangible product to represent the quality level of where we're going with the partnership," said Gordon Renshaw, the chamber's executive director. "It's the first item we can take to the media and public that represents what this partnership is about."

The manufacturer's council was so excited by the John Deere video that they have pledged $15,000 to upgrade equipment for the technology labs at Greenbrier and Evans high schools, Mr. Renshaw said.

Eventually, he hopes Columbia County schools can produce more videos for local manufacturers.

The videos can be used as recruitment and training tools for companies, but also can be used in schools to highlight manufacturing occupations available to students in the county.

"I'm really excited by this project because it benefits the kids, the teachers, the (guidance) counselors and the manufacturers," Mr. Canady said.

Lakeside graduate Maria Rojas worked on the John Deere video last year as a senior. Along with other students, she shot more than an hour of raw footage for the project and edited it down to a 14-minute film.

"It was the first thing I had done that was for a real company," the 19-year-old Augusta Technical College student said.

"It was a great experience being in John Deere, seeing what they do and then putting that together as a professional video package."

Lakeside High technology teacher Jason Stark supervised production of the video and said he's looking forward to other projects with manufacturers.

"We have a lot of fun in here doing the stuff we do," he said. "It's great to enjoy doing something that everyone else also seems to enjoy."

Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.