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FFA officers Silkee Hill, treasurer, Anguss Hill, president, Shelby Headland, vice president, Grant Samsill, secretary, and Josh Harrington, sentinel, pause at the doorway of the greenhouse refurbishment project at Mayer High School.
BBN Photo/Cheryl Hartz
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By Cheryl Hartz
Big Bug News
Mayer High School has had its problems keeping agriculture teachers, but not in keeping the interest of students.
"In the six years I've been here (junior high and high school) I've had six different ag teachers," said FFA President Anguss Hill. "It's a downer. You finally get something going, then the teacher doesn't sign a contract and you start over."
But even the lack of consistency hasn't stopped Hill and his fellow ag students from forging forward with a plethora of projects.
One that's ready for the public's "input" is an 8-foot-square compost pile the schools' first period ag class completed two weeks ago. They bought wood with a grant, and used railroad ties and concrete for the open frame. Now they need folks to bring in compost materials. (See sidebar.)
"We're counting on the public to help fill it," said interim substitute ag teacher Debbie Spicer, who added the students enjoyed building the structure. "And if they fill that one up, we'll build another."
The compost eventually will help students grow houseplants and vegetables in their greenhouse.
Refurbishing the greenhouse is the fifth period class' project.
Ponderosa Electric updated the electrical system.
"It was quite a bit to sort out, but it got sorted out," Hill said with a smile.
FFA Vice President Shelby Headland said students will re-run the plumbing themselves and are preparing to level the ground inside so they can add new gravel. Then they will erect new plastic siding.
"We hope to start (growing plants) by the end of the semester," Hill noted. "We can use hydroponics and a drip system to incorporate some sort of floriculture and horticulture."
"We learned about lettuce grown in water," added Grant Samsill, FFA secretary.
"We intend to use it as a marketing tool, and possibly join with FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). Their project would be marketing," Hill said.
Selling plants and produce will generate income for ag projects and programs.
So will selling fish, a project the seventh period class plans for the aquiculture shed.
A pair of bright blue, 300-gallon tanks are ready to fill and supply with tilapia, Hill said.
Again, Ponderosa Electric fixed the shed so it will stay toasty all winter for the warm water fish.
"We can use the fish for fish fries to raise money," Hill said.
"And maybe fee fishing," added Samsill.
During warm weather, they could move tilapia to the aerated pond and allow the public to fish for a fee.
That idea didn't work out so well two years ago when they first constructed the pond, because they didn't know tilapia couldn't survive in cold water. It's all part of the learning process, and they now research their projects more thoroughly. They might try catfish, bluegill or bass outside instead. The pond also will serve as an irrigation source.
In addition, the seventh period class is working on building concrete sidewalks and pads around the barn, a bridge across the small ravine that runs through the barnyard, and adding wash racks to the barn.
"There's so much to do here (in Arizona) with agriculture," said Samsill. "You don't have to be a boots and spurs cowboy. There's flowers, produce, judging, and technology is really taking over."
"You can be a devoted agriculturalist without leaving the office," Hill noted. "And computers and automated systems make the margin of error lower."
Even though ag classes average about 20 students per class, not all students are devoted to the program. Some take the classes because Mayer High can offer few electives, Hill said. But Samsill, a sophomore, said they're working on recruiting for the FFA and ag programs.
"At one time Mayer High was renowned for its agriculture department, and we want to return it to that," Samsill said.
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