SHOALS – Shoals High School has a new barn for its agriculture program. The school unveiled the new barn to the public on May 13.
The barn was completed by agriculture and construction students. Teacher Ben Kent says the barn was a dream and something that a lot of students would benefit from.
As soon as the school’s superintendent approved the project, students got to work on building the 40-by-40 barn and loft. The barn was built with tulip poplar and was constructed for $60,000 and is appraised at $125,000.
There is still a lot of work left to be done on the barn. There are plans on adding electrical and water out to the barn but that’s not all there are plans to build more pens and plans to insulate the barn.
Planning, fundraising, and construction took place over the past two years.
To raise money, the students built and sold more than 160 picnic tables and 200 shooting benches. The students made custom furniture including dining room tables and media stands. They poured new concrete sidewalks at the school and built a walking trail around the campus.
The construction class is currently working to convert an old study hall space into a counseling area in the middle school.
Donations from the community included platinum-level sponsorships from Hoosier Uplands, Martin County Community Foundation, a School Improvement Grant, and FarmCredit Mid-America in memory of Carol Richer.
Housed in the barn are three sows, a large litter of piglets, and two cows.
Having a barn will allow the program to elevate its farm-to-table program by taking care of the animals, being involved in the butchering, and then selling products. Students sell sausage and other cuts of meat as well as eggs. The program has an orchard, a greenhouse and sells chicken, and turkeys.
