Agri-Science & Technology
Florists. Small engine mechanics. Dairy farmers. Zookeepers.
All of these, and so many more, are ag-related fields. The 242 students—nearly a third of the entire student population—enrolled in the agri-science and technology program at Ledyard High School often say, sometimes in jest, but more often in earnest, “Ag is life.” And the truth is that agriculture is woven into nearly every facet of our daily existence.
“Last year, four of us [students] were on the committee that helped to pick our new teacher. Ms. [Karolyn] Card opened her interview by having us pull random objects out of a bag and try to decide if our object had to do with ag,” says junior Shelby Olsen, a Groton resident enrolled in the program.
Olsen, who is the standing Vice President of the FFA, also plays soccer, runs track, and sings with the all-female acapella group, Acabellas.
“When you think of agriculture, you mainly think of crops and cattle,” she says, “but her experiment showed us that everything relates to ag. From pencils to silk scarves, they all come back to one core industry.”
It’s that multi-faceted nature of the program that draws such strong interest around the region. Mrs. Devon O’Keefe, head of the Agri-Science department, says the strength of the program cannot be narrowed down to a single thing.
“Many of our students choose this program because of their natural interests in ag-related fields. They may come from a family that runs a landscaping business or a dairy farm, or they may have an interest in becoming a veterinarian or a florist,” she says, “But so much of the popularity of the program is due to word of mouth. Students who are in the program tell their siblings, their neighbors, or their friends about it, and words spreads about the great opportunities kids have here.”
The Agri-Science faculty, a group of five teachers with a broad skill set, describe the Ag experience as learning by doing.
“It’s such a hands-on environment,” says Mr. Matthew Smith, who heads up the aquaculture program and supports both Ag Mechanics and Horticulture. “I think students find that time flies because they are not just learning in theory. They have their hands in it, actually working to master different skills.”
Indeed, on any given day, Ag students might be found in waders, knee deep in an ornamental water garden; in welding helmets and masks, perfecting their arc welds; at work tables, designing holiday wreaths and centerpieces; or in the barn, collecting eggs from the laying hens. And that, too, is part of the draw.
“I like that it’s never the same twice,” says Samantha Epstein, a senior from North Stonington who serves as the FFA Secretary. “The skills you learn change from day to day. You’re learning different life skills, which gives you an opportunity to pursue a different job or career that not a lot of people thing about.”
And it’s more than simple content knowledge. For seniors like Dan Contino—who this year serves as the FFA President, is an honors student and a varsity athlete at Ledyard— and Michael Paige, whose focus is on Ag Mechanics, some of the rewards are less tangible.
“For me, personally, I’ve taken on a lot of leadership as part of the FFA officer team and in the classroom. There is so much freedom in the classroom,” explains Contino. “The Ag teachers offer us guidance, but they let us learn us by our mistakes and failures, which is really different than any other learning environment.”
“Initially, I was interested in attending Ledyard High School in general, for all of its offerings, but I fell in love with Ag,” says Paige. “I really like how hard work is rewarded in his program. There’s a real sense of community through the FFA and through the department itself. There is so much opportunity for growth.”
And that may be the biggest draw of an Agri-Science and Technology education. Teachers help students cultivate growth in skills, animals, and crops, but they are also growing the problem-solvers and leaders of tomorrow.