Pleasant Valley High School students rate the space and measure their new barn before adding side walls.
Chris Ramsey, an agricultural teacher at Plex Valley High School, began teaching there 14 years ago and has seen many improvements in the program. The most recent is the “Ag Barn”, which allows students to own farm animals and stay in the barn until display time.
“We saw the need for a barn about 10 years ago, and the project is now bearing fruit,” Ramsey said.
During those 10 years, the high school was busy developing other programs, including the Horticulture program. Ramsey oversees the construction of a greenhouse where students grow and sell plants. Proceeds from the sale of plants will be returned to the program, but some of the proceeds from the May sale will go to the new ag storehouse.
In earlier years, the program focused on other projects, such as teaching students to work with wood. Finally, it was time to focus on the barn.
Although there is no barn, some students in Pleasant Valley are engaged in learning with farm animals, especially those with home storage. By adding the barn, more students can take classes by working with cattle.
“Students can keep their animals in this barn, feed them, clean them, dress them, and train them,” Ramsey said. This teaches students responsibility.
On October 28 and 29, the students will show off their animals and compete for ribbons at the Kalhun County Show.
Ramsey appreciates all those who have contributed to this latest project, including the Kusa Valley Rural Community and Development Program, which has donated $ 6,000 to livestock. Other contributors are Lee Patterson and Jedi Hess, Calvin County Board of Education and county commissioners.
“We’re glad we did,” Patterson said. “The commission will try to assist all schools with their programs. It is part of our calling. ”
County staff assisted in landscaping and storing the barn. They will soon run water and electricity lines to the barn.
“This project has been going on for the past three years and we have been planning it all winter,” Ramsey said. I’m happy, but we’re not done yet.
Ramsey, Ple Valley’s only Ag teacher, has an assistant, Pam Scott. His profession is gardening, and her cattle. Their education is popular, with 20 to 30 students each.
Ramsey’s two children, Hunter and Caleb, have passed the AG program, and now their daughter, Emma, is in the Animal Program.
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