West Branch schools, community cultivate climate for agriculture
BELOIT – West Branch Local Schools Vocational Agriculture Department has promoted an understanding of agriculture and equipping students with knowledge and skills needed to work in farming and related fields.
West Branch third-graders recently went behind the scenes at a local farm in partnership with the district’s high school vocational agriculture program.
The trip continued a 30-year partnership between West Branch Local Schools and local farms that began with Kevin Martig of Martig Farms. Martig was a sophomore in the West Branch agriculture program at the time.
“Kids need to come out and see a farm,” Martig said. “They need to know where their food comes from.”
The youngsters interacted with high school students from the district’s vocational agriculture courses as they toured Martig Farms and Conny Farms, both in Beloit, and visited the high school agriculture room.
There, students planted their own flower to take home, guided by high school agriculture students who talked with the youngsters about what a plant needs to grow.
At Conny Farms, West Branch agricultural students led the third-graders through the farm, discussing grain farming. The children saw horses, goats and long-horned cattle.
Mary Fannin from Farm Credit and Brian Beck from Witmer’s Feed and Grain fielded questions about the industry as they guided students through Martig’s dairy and birdseed operations.
“Most of these kids – even though they are from an agricultural community – don’t get to get this close to it,” Fannin said.
Students learned about dairy cows, with patient, quiet and gentle up-close interactions. They even got to pet some calves.
Brian Beck detailed how math comes into play when he calculates food needed for the cows at Martig’s.
At the milking parlor, students learned about the journey milk takes through the parlor – cow to cooling equipment to a truck for transport to a processing facility.
Growing the future of agriculture
The vocational agricultural program at West Branch High School includes seven courses, with nearly a third of district pupils taking at least one of these courses prior to graduation.
Even though only 1% of the population of the United States is actively involved in farming, there are a vast number of careers that benefit from the exposure. Foundational and advanced courses cover critical content areas such as food, plant and animal science, mechanics and business.
West Branch agriculture instructor Greg Sharp said experience with agriculture opens a number of paths to his students. “They have opportunities that others don’t have because they have grown up in a rural setting,” Sharp said.
Animal & Plant Science student Morgan Brown plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian after high school. She said the in-depth study of animal body systems has helped her prepare for the upcoming skillathon for 4-H.
Students explore electricity, plumbing, hydraulics, welding, small engines, concrete/masonry and more in the Agriculture & Mechanics class. MAC Trailer provided a welder for students to use as they learn and practice their skills in the program.
Juniors and seniors taking Agriculture Business I and II will learn business, law, marketing and record-keeping. The students also are required to perform ag-related work at local or family farms, farm markets, heavy equipment operators, landscaping or other agriculture-related work.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: West Branch schools, community cultivate climate for agriculture
