Digging deep

MURRAY — Future Farmers of America (FFA) supports the advancement of agriculture education across the U.S., whether teenagers are interested in becoming farmers or working in a related field like microbiology or business management. The skills today’s students learn are meant to streamline their success in college and the world of work.

Murray students begin in fourth grade with the 4H program and transition to FFA as high school begins. Taylorann Clark is the ag teacher and FFA coach at Murray School, but there’s something very unique about her program. A few steps away from her classroom, students have the opportunity to explore agriculture studies in-depth with the help of the greenhouse constructed on campus at the start of the school year. In just a few months, the students, with help from the Clarke County Conservation Board (CCCB) and their teacher Ms. Clark, have designed several cutting edge growth systems that rely on alternatives to growing plants.

At a recent meeting of the Clarke County Development Corporation, Scott Kent, executive director of the CCCB claimed the students have technology available to them that rivals what you find in college. Aquaponic, hydroponic and aeroponic setups help students learn how to grow plants without soil or traditional fertilizer.

“Right now this is a hydroponics system because we don’t have growing fish. Once you have fish in there, it’s aquaponics,” explained Clark. “That is an aeroponics, so basically its misting the roots.”

The older students were responsible for selecting an herb, vegetable or flower for the year to grow for an Appreciation Day giveaway to be held at the end of the year.

“They had to research it, had to figure out how to plant it, with my guidance,” said Clarke, adding that younger students have also gotten involved.

Leadership is an integral component to the FFA program at Murray. Not only do the students learn how to organize their schedules and discover the benefits of their hard work, they also learn how to guide others. The greenhouse built near the back of the school property provides plenty of opportunities to hone those skills.

“We’re in a plant science class, currently,” said Wookey, “so we’re out there pretty much every day.”

Each girl has her own plant to nurture — Klein selected strawberries while Wookey chose cilantro. Using the school’s new aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems, the students will plant and grow a variety of vegatables, herbs and flowers. They intend to give them away as teacher appreciation gifts this year.

Students from second-grade classes show up to plant flowers, too. They group around the older students, waiting for their turn. Positive reinforcement is a big part of the plan.

“If you have your seeds, you come over here. You’re going to plant 1-2-3,” Klein said, demonstrating to a group of four or five kids how to poke holes in the soil and drop their seeds in, waiting as they follow her lead. “There you go!”

“This is what the greenhouse is all about,” said Wookey. “Trying to show them how much fun it is to work together — being a leader, communicating and getting our plants to grow.”

In the future, said Clark, students will grow vegetables, fruits, flowers and fish in order to help fund the greenhouse efforts.

“That’s not going to have a determining effect on whether we buy equipment or buy seeds,” said Murray Superintendent Alan Miller. “It’s the difference between theoretical learning and practical learning. We’re trying to make it a deep experience.”

Once students master growing, they’ll move on to marketing, sales and other aspects of professional agriculture.