US (TX): Bullard High School receives 'Green Thumb' grant
In the past few years, the Bullard High school agriculture department has grown quite a bit. The increase isn't typical, over the years, fewer young people are opting to go into agriculture.
The sudden surge in animals and farming, is what prompted ag teachers to apply for the Bullard Education Foundation Green Thumb grant.
This green bud, sprouting out of this red dirt, is a small sign of what students will soon be growing inside the plastic walls of this greenhouse.
"They can come and plant the plants them selves they can watch it grow they can see the final product," said agriculture teacher Charlotte Main.
"It's gonna broaden our membership and make kids want to come in if they want to learn how to plant and grow and maybe in the landscaping industry they can really get a feel of what it's like," said Bullard FFA president Tyler Kelly.
Over the years, the number of new farmers has continued to drop, and that's a big problem.
"Agriculture is a critical need in us employment area. If we don't have young men and women going into the agriculture filed, there's no way we can feed the world in the next 20 years," said Main.
The goal of using the greenhouse is to inspire even more students to consider that path as they look at careers.
"I started out wanting to be a nurse because that's what my family has grown up being," said FFA student Sam Spiller.
She said that all changed after experience what agriculture had to offer.
"The planting is probably my favourite."
Both Spiller and Hannah Lloyd said this greenhouse will give them the tools to pursue their goals.
"I feel like I'm gonna be ready for my future and it just made me see different things that we can actually grow things and how things are created versus just buying things at the grocery store," said Lloyd
The green house is the first step toward getting more students involved in agriculture. Next, the agriculture department hopes to start a community garden, which will teach the community gardening skills and to provide home grown food.
Source: www.cbs19.tv