Wahkiakum FFA growing student opportunities

Students in the Wahkiakum agriculture education program are reaping the rewards of hard work by untapping a new level of opportunity. Recently the Washington FFA Foundation provided them with a $40,000 grant, which was extended into an additional $40,000 to enhance the program.

The FFA is a leadership organization that is an integral part of the classroom model in the agriculture education career and technical education (CTE) program at Wahkiakum High School. Kyle Hurley, the program advisor and district CTE coordinator, initiated the grant from the Washington FFA seeing a need to train young people to operate equipment while also making the farm forest more accessible for student and community use.

With the grant the CTE program purchased an excavator for $70,000 and is making improvements on the school garden space. The excavator will be used to build a 2 mile walking path on the 90 acre farm forest located adjacent to the school. Students will learn how to operate equipment while getting certified hours and training as they advance their skills in learning about dirt work construction. “Currently the farm forest space is used by students but has minimal access to be able to use it at its potential,” shared Hurley. There is a small path students have used to walk to the pond and do environmental science activities and identify plants. “The potential of the space is incredible to give students and the community access to a nature trail.”

Hurley went through the Washington Industrial and Safety and Health Act (WISHA) 10 certification program through the state of Washington Department of Labor and Industries. According to (WDLI), “This training course is offered to help seasoned and skilled agricultural personnel to become certified to teach the WISHA 10 for Agriculture ten-hour class.” Hurley is now a certified trainer and will transfer his knowledge to his students through hands on learning opportunities in tractor accident prevention, hazard communication, machine safety, personal protective equipment, ATV safety, field sanitation, outdoor heat exposure, workplace violence, animal handling, and zoonotic diseases.

Through the classroom agriculture education program students will not only be trained on how to operate the equipment, but also will be given opportunities to shine in the FFA program through premier leadership and career development contests. In addition, students can apply their knowledge to potential career opportunities beyond high school.

The remining $10,000 of the grant will go to improving the school compass garden that offers an extension to the classroom. The garden beds will be reconstructed, and gravel pathways will be laid down to mitigate the problem with weeds. Students in 5th grade through high school will learn how to construct the beds, figure volume for filling them then plan the growing spaces.

The Agriculture Education FFA leadership program motto states, “Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to serve.” Students will learn the value of these words through the expansion of this grant program.