Whitley County High School has installed an all-new, 2,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse facility that is slated to be fully operational this fall.
WCHS vo-ag teacher Brian Prewitt is overseeing the installation of the new greenhouse facility, and he is happy about the opportunities that it is going to present students for years to come. “We’re always trying to be innovative in following along with what is going on in the agriculture industry,” Prewitt said. “Hydroponics and controlled environment agriculture are what’s really huge in our state right now and across America.”
“We’re trying to train these students so that they can leave here and go to work for some of these big companies,” said Prewitt. “Those are good, high-paying jobs that are coming to our area, and those large greenhouses are going to work in the same way that ours does, using the same type of technology.”
In addition to providing unique educational opportunities, the new greenhouse facility will also be used to generate funds for the school’s vo-ag program. “This is going to be a full-fledged business,” said Prewitt. “There will be a store and a processing area. We will be open to the public, selling produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and strawberries, and we also have contracts with some local restaurants to supply them with fresh, local produce as well.”
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