ELCO students pitch barn project to boost hands-on agriculture education

“I’m the future of agriculture.”

Young kids wearing FFA jackets came forward one by one to address a classroom full of local business representatives, politicians, and family to repeat the sentiment.

This was just part of a pitch by Eastern Lebanon County School District students and staff asking that the community help to fund or otherwise contribute to a barn for the school’s agriculture program.

According to a provided packet, with eight 64-square-foot holding pens, a 1,920 square-foot attached arena and pasture space, the planned 6,720-square-foot barn could hold multiple livestock animals and host students: both those in ELCO’s agriculture program and others participating in educational clinics.

Ag science teacher Madison Balthaser estimates the ag program teaches around 120 students per year — with less than 10 of them having a farm at home to learn to take care of livestock hands-on, though some work for local businesses taking care of livestock. Almost all students in the program would use the barn, she said, with students being responsible for taking care of animals from infancy to their eventual sale.

She said students could rotate animals each year, allowing students in the program for all four years of high school to spend a year each with goats, pigs, lambs, and dairy cows.

Superintendent Julia Vicente explained that the pitch was modeled off of The Great Lebanon County Pitch.

The barn, she said, has been in discussion for seven years. However, when recent renovations were made, the district lacked funding for the project, estimated to cost between $500,000 and $600,000.

Read More: ELCO gives us a tour of newly expanded STEM & ag facilities at ELCO High School

However, Vicente said recent conversations with nearby business GAF — which has committed to supporting the barn’s roof and providing it with solar pnels — sparked a possibility of creating the barn with the community, inspired by the tradition of barn-raising.

High school students in the school’s ag program and FFA came forward to speak about the virtues they learned through ag and argue for the addition of a barn.

Student Anna Hauser described falling in love with agriculture at the annual Lebanon Area Fair, but not being able to take care of animals at home due to the zone she lives in. Though she started high school planning to become an oncology nurse, she changed her mind through a Future Farmers of America event.

“This is the reality for many students today, including those within our district,” Hauser said. “Many don’t get the opportunity to grow up in an agricultural background or experience many aspects of it. … This barn will open the door to students who didn’t get to have those experiences growing up, like me, to be able to give it a shot.”

Student Caleb Nolt described the way agriculture empowered him to serve his community, donating a $20,000 steer to benefit the Lebanon Rescue Mission at the fair last year.

Read More: Teen’s $20,000 steer sale at Lebanon Area Fair benefits Christian ministries

Other student extolled the benefits of ag in fostering their leadership skills, teaching them responsibility, and more.

Though Lebanon County, in particular the eastern portion, is known for its agricultural character, the average age of a farmer in Pennsylvania has risen to 55.4.

Bell & Evans owner and ’70s ELCO graduate (then-FFA president) Scott Sechler praised how the school’s attitude toward ag has changed, noting that when he was young, the ag program wasn’t taken seriously and barely any girls were involved (a stark contrast from the 5:2 split of girls to boys in teens who spoke Thursday). He voiced his support for the barn, though said it was 20 years overdue.

“You’re going to have my support and a lot of support here,” said Sechler. “I think we should all get behind you and try to get that next generation going.”

Though some in attendance had a few questions, reception was overwhelmingly positive. A construction company offered to perform excavation for the project, and a retired resident volunteered his time working on the project in whatever capacity was needed.

Attendees were given forms to pledge donations to the project, in varying amounts, as well as a packet to review with their business if applicable.

The school plans to involve more of the community in the project during a Fall Harvest Fest, which will be more geared for families than businesses.