FFA learns about hay, new grant

Throughout the year, the White County High School Agricultural Department prides itself on the hands-on experiences they provide their students, one of which being the opportunity to allow students to learn how to do hay production. This includes learning how to “use machinery, how to cut, rake, roll, and move hay” said Senior FFA Vice President Dustee Savage.

 Not only do students get to work at the high school, but they also get to take the skills they learn over to the middle school. In September, multiple students put their skills to the test when one of the agriculture teachers, Kyler Moore, oversaw their work cutting hay in the front field of the middle school. The middle school recently added an agriculture program to their school, so, while older students are getting the experience, younger ones are getting to see what they can look forward to as they get older.

When Dustee was asked if he enjoyed this experience he said “Yes, I love doing it, and I know that this will help me on my own farm in the future.”

This program is both enjoyable and educational for the students. This of course would not be possible without additional funding and support by the school, more specifically Lane Ward, the CTE director, at the high school. White County High School’s CTE program earned the Innovative School Models Grant. This is a state grant where a high school can choose to accept $1 million, specifically to go toward career education classes. Many CTE programs are being helped by this grant, agriculture education being one of them. New hay equipment was purchased, such as a new tractor.

Mr. Ward is very eager to share the new improvements for the school and states, “One of the things that all of the projects have in common is that the focus is on improving our lab opportunities. Our goal is to allow students to experience what it’s like to really be in that industry or in that trade.”

With the help of this grant and the career program, the WCHS agriculture department is excited to put their skills to work to better the community and allow the students an opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.