FFA agriculture program thrives at Heritage High
By Tommie Brown, Staff Writer With new buildings and establishments popping up all around Menifee, and new construction sites unfolding da...
http://www.menifee247.com/2019/05/ffa-agriculture-program-thrives-at-heritage-high.html
By Tommie Brown, Staff Writer
With new buildings and establishments popping up all around Menifee, and new construction sites unfolding daily, Heritage High School’s Agriculture Department has managed to cultivate a farmstead haven on their campus.
If you’ve driven by the school, you've probably noticed the big red barn adjacent to the campus. With a rooster-topped weather vane, the building stands almost as homage to the rural history Menifee is known for.
But beyond its aesthetic, the barn serves as the main meeting ground for Heritage’s FFA Chapter (The Future Farmers of America).
An organization that spreads well throughout the country, the FFA “mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.”
If you’ve ever gotten the privilege of walking the entirety of the land, then you already know the vast amounts of work and life contained within the grounds. It includes livestock ranging from sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, ducks, and sometimes even cattle, to plant life of over 60 species varying anywhere from trees to perennials.
However, don’t be fooled by the tractor parked next to the plot of homegrown grass feed. The Agriculture Department and land serves as far more than a place to teach teenagers how to run their own farm.
“The likelihood of these students becoming farmers is slim,” says Maggie Maratsos, Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, “but we wanted to show that within agriculture there is so much to teach and learn.”
There are nearly countless subjects and focuses that fall under the umbrella of Agriculture. Wood working, Horticulture, Economics, Chemistry, Veterinary Studies, Mechanics, Floral Design, and even Government are just a few. Not to mention the leadership programs the chapter offers, such as numerous Speech teams, Public Speaking teams, interview preparation, and Debate team. The group even has a program for those aspiring to go into the business field, where the students grow and take home 50 various plants, then have to make out a business model and sell the plants they chose. The students get to keep the money they earned after presenting their studies.
Given a tour by Heritage’s Chapter Reporter, Megan Sumaya, Menifee 24/7 learned of the birthing process of all animals on the student’s farm.
“Nearly every animal here was born here,” says Sumaya. “We have been with them since day one and have made sure that they are safe and comfortable.”
Sumaya, a Junior with the focus on veterinary studies, has taken a specific liking to the pigs on campus.
“Every student gets the opportunity to pick their own animal that they get to focus on,” says Sumaya as she tended to some of the lambs in their stall. The animals, clearly familiar with her presence, followed her voice. “You stay with that animal sometimes from their actual birth, or their animal giving birth. We learn about their shots, their illnesses, all the things we would need to perform basic vet training.”
On the far end of the acreage is a barn specified for the care of newborns. Bleach on the bottom of each shoe that enters is the first of safety precautions taken within their care. Heated carriers, constant cameras sending live feeds, and monitored feeding and check-ups are placed to ensure the newborns' well-being.
“We care about the babies, but we also need to care about their mothers,” says Sumaya. “They need to rest like any other mom who just gave birth. This gives everyone time to recover.”
As if this wasn’t enough, the students even have a mock fairground showcase ring to prep animals who will be put into showing contests in SoCal fairs. Both the care taker and the animal have opportunities to showcase their hard work on a statewide level. And the mock ring acts as a playground for both animals and students to get used to a fair setting. With bleachers included, the students welcome parents and audiences to watch their mock contests and take part in their education.
“This program spreads so vastly and widely,” says Maratsos. “I can’t even name everything that goes on here off the top of my head. Everyone just works really hard to learn as much as they can here.”
But the learning spreads beyond the Heritage campus. The students have taken their knowledge and skill to surrounding schools and students.
Mimicking their own raised beds, the Heritage FFA members volunteer their time to elementary schools with activities such as building the students their own sets of raised beds to learning how to raise and upkeep.
On Heritage’s campus, the students use their 24 raised beds to focus on the fruits and vegetables they take on each season. From cabbage, to kale, to strawberries, the students choose what they want to see manifest and take ownership of their food items.
Refrigerating items after growth, students compile both their edible vegetation as well as their plant growth and hold Plant Sales on campus every third Friday and Saturday of each month, open to the public. All proceeds are given back to the program.
“Our program is a lot different from any other program offered to kids,” says Maratsos. “We want to offer a different kind of learning experience that no other place is going to give them at this age.”
Whether it be learning to drive a tractor or studying agricultural law, the students in the Heritage FFA Chapter are getting the most literal definition of a hands-on learning experience.
In a city that has been built around rural foundation and occupations, these students and staff members are serving as a reminder to our community of the importance and significance agriculture plays.
For more information, visit https://www.menifeeheritageffa.com.
With new buildings and establishments popping up all around Menifee, and new construction sites unfolding daily, Heritage High School’s Agriculture Department has managed to cultivate a farmstead haven on their campus.
If you’ve driven by the school, you've probably noticed the big red barn adjacent to the campus. With a rooster-topped weather vane, the building stands almost as homage to the rural history Menifee is known for.
An organization that spreads well throughout the country, the FFA “mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.”
If you’ve ever gotten the privilege of walking the entirety of the land, then you already know the vast amounts of work and life contained within the grounds. It includes livestock ranging from sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, ducks, and sometimes even cattle, to plant life of over 60 species varying anywhere from trees to perennials.
However, don’t be fooled by the tractor parked next to the plot of homegrown grass feed. The Agriculture Department and land serves as far more than a place to teach teenagers how to run their own farm.
“The likelihood of these students becoming farmers is slim,” says Maggie Maratsos, Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, “but we wanted to show that within agriculture there is so much to teach and learn.”
There are nearly countless subjects and focuses that fall under the umbrella of Agriculture. Wood working, Horticulture, Economics, Chemistry, Veterinary Studies, Mechanics, Floral Design, and even Government are just a few. Not to mention the leadership programs the chapter offers, such as numerous Speech teams, Public Speaking teams, interview preparation, and Debate team. The group even has a program for those aspiring to go into the business field, where the students grow and take home 50 various plants, then have to make out a business model and sell the plants they chose. The students get to keep the money they earned after presenting their studies.
Given a tour by Heritage’s Chapter Reporter, Megan Sumaya, Menifee 24/7 learned of the birthing process of all animals on the student’s farm.
“Nearly every animal here was born here,” says Sumaya. “We have been with them since day one and have made sure that they are safe and comfortable.”
Sumaya, a Junior with the focus on veterinary studies, has taken a specific liking to the pigs on campus.
“Every student gets the opportunity to pick their own animal that they get to focus on,” says Sumaya as she tended to some of the lambs in their stall. The animals, clearly familiar with her presence, followed her voice. “You stay with that animal sometimes from their actual birth, or their animal giving birth. We learn about their shots, their illnesses, all the things we would need to perform basic vet training.”
On the far end of the acreage is a barn specified for the care of newborns. Bleach on the bottom of each shoe that enters is the first of safety precautions taken within their care. Heated carriers, constant cameras sending live feeds, and monitored feeding and check-ups are placed to ensure the newborns' well-being.
“We care about the babies, but we also need to care about their mothers,” says Sumaya. “They need to rest like any other mom who just gave birth. This gives everyone time to recover.”
As if this wasn’t enough, the students even have a mock fairground showcase ring to prep animals who will be put into showing contests in SoCal fairs. Both the care taker and the animal have opportunities to showcase their hard work on a statewide level. And the mock ring acts as a playground for both animals and students to get used to a fair setting. With bleachers included, the students welcome parents and audiences to watch their mock contests and take part in their education.
“This program spreads so vastly and widely,” says Maratsos. “I can’t even name everything that goes on here off the top of my head. Everyone just works really hard to learn as much as they can here.”
But the learning spreads beyond the Heritage campus. The students have taken their knowledge and skill to surrounding schools and students.
Mimicking their own raised beds, the Heritage FFA members volunteer their time to elementary schools with activities such as building the students their own sets of raised beds to learning how to raise and upkeep.
On Heritage’s campus, the students use their 24 raised beds to focus on the fruits and vegetables they take on each season. From cabbage, to kale, to strawberries, the students choose what they want to see manifest and take ownership of their food items.
Refrigerating items after growth, students compile both their edible vegetation as well as their plant growth and hold Plant Sales on campus every third Friday and Saturday of each month, open to the public. All proceeds are given back to the program.
“Our program is a lot different from any other program offered to kids,” says Maratsos. “We want to offer a different kind of learning experience that no other place is going to give them at this age.”
Whether it be learning to drive a tractor or studying agricultural law, the students in the Heritage FFA Chapter are getting the most literal definition of a hands-on learning experience.
In a city that has been built around rural foundation and occupations, these students and staff members are serving as a reminder to our community of the importance and significance agriculture plays.
For more information, visit https://www.menifeeheritageffa.com.
