MITCHELL — After a period without it, Mitchell High School is actively working to rebuild its Agriculture Education program and bring the FFA (Future Farmers of America) back to the school, a move that is exciting students and community members alike. This resurgence will provide students with valuable opportunities to get involved in agriculture, develop leadership skills, and gain extensive hands-on experience.
A crucial milestone in this process was reached during the October Mitchell Community Schools Board Meeting. The school board voted to approve the Mitchell FFA Chapter bylaws and officially approved agriculture classes for the 2027–2028 school year. The meeting was attended by Mitchell FFA President Isabelle Barker, who was present alongside Superintendent Todd Tanksley, highlighting the importance of student and administration collaboration on this project. This was a substantial step forward in reintroducing comprehensive agriculture education at Mitchell High School.
The newly revitalized program will kick off with its first agriculture class offering during the summer of 2027. Students will have the unique opportunity to enroll in a Summer Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) course. This innovative class will allow students to earn high school credit while gaining essential hands-on experience and valuable on-the-job training. In this setting, students will be able to work on practical agricultural projects, explore a diverse range of career opportunities, and develop a variety of skills that will be beneficial for their future endeavors, whether they choose an agricultural path or not.
Following the summer pilot, starting with the 2027–2028 school year, Mitchell High School will begin offering a variety of agriculture classes during the regular school year. Samantha Goen has been named to teach these classes and will also serve as the Mitchell FFA Advisor.
Despite agriculture classes not having officially commenced, the Mitchell FFA is already seeing impressive growth. The chapter currently boasts around 50 enthusiastic members who are already actively engaged in various meetings, community service projects, fundraising efforts, and other FFA-related activities. Students are clearly excited to be a part of the program’s reconstruction.
Along with the reintroduction of agriculture classes, another significant goal for the program is to rebuild the school’s agricultural facilities. This includes the barn and the greenhouse, which are critical for providing students with more comprehensive hands-on learning opportunities. These facilities would enable deeper education in key areas such as animal science, plant science, and other specialized agricultural career pathways. To make these goals achievable, Goen is working closely with community members, local businesses, and the Agriculture Advisory Board.
The initiative to rebuild the agriculture program is about more than just adding classes to the curriculum. It is focused on providing students with the opportunity to acquire skills they can readily apply after high school, whether their future plans involve attending college, immediately entering the workforce, or pursuing a career in the extensive field of agriculture.
While there is still a significant amount of work to be done, Mitchell High School is highly enthusiastic about the progress being made and the numerous beneficial opportunities this program will bring to students in the coming years.
