FFA advisor, Alyssa Hamlin, said the program has received more than $150,000 in donations and grants for the project. The organization received assistance from an FFA advisory board fundraising committee which raised nearly $40,000 for the project.
Hamlin said this is a significant project for the FFA program. “Not only will I be able to provide real life hands-on learning experiences for students, but it will also help solidify our agricultural presence within the district and community. I know this barn facility will continue to open doors for our students and program. I look forward to exploring those avenues and growing our program as a whole,” said Hamlin.
FFA students are expected to be able to use the new facility this fall. The barn is being constructed by SE Agricultural & Commercial Solutions. In addition, the project will provide some TKHS students enrolled in the Principles of Tech class hands-on training. They will assist with completing some of the internal finishings within the two classroom spaces in the barn.
The barn will have two classroom spaces where students can learn about animal safety, reproduction, care and maintenance. They will also work on record keeping, understanding of food systems, digestive systems and animal behavior.
A key piece of the project is for the barn to function as a real farm. Students will analyze inflow and outflow expenses, budgets, and brainstorm ideas for fundraising opportunities.
This facility will provide students with supervised animal experiences. Students will be able to manage their own projects in the barn. This gives students, who do not come from an agricultural background, the opportunity to raise their own livestock and by doing so, learn valuable skills including responsibility, competition, leadership, financial sense, time management and dedication.
FFA members will be able to use the barn to house their broiler chickens for the state broiler contest. In recent years, the FFA students have used a small storage shed outside their classroom to raise the chickens. The barn will allow students to work in groups to raise their small flock of chickens and have a more individualized experience.
The TK FFA program had been dormant since the mid 1960’s. It was resurrected in the 2022-23 school year and has been growing strong in just a few short years. Members currently attend the state and national conventions and take part in the regional and state FFA competitions, including the broiler contest and leadership and career development events.