Pickett County Schools launching a new agricultural drone program providing students with hands-on experience using unmanned aircraft technology in livestock production.
CTE Director Kenny Tompkins said the initiative is funded through a $100,000 SPARK grant. Tompkins said the school system identified agriculture as a priority because it currently serves as the only program of study on campus.
“We’re going to be doing what our ag teacher calls ‘Eyes in the Sky,’ that’s part of the proposal,” Tompkins said. “It’s an agricultural drone system to provide students with hands-on experience using unmanned aircraft technology in livestock production.”
Tompkins said the local curriculum includes veterinary science and plant science. The district qualified for the funding because the state classifies the county as a high-distress area.
“The SPARK grant is for counties that are in distress, high-distress counties,” Tompkins said. “And it gives us extra money to help our programs of studies to enhance the learning and the abilities of our students so that they get all of the experiences that they possibly can to help them go forward and to help in their careers or vocations, whatever they decide they’re going to be working in.”
Tompkins said the program is particularly relevant because the community relies on several large farms and many family-owned operations.
“I hope that they have all of the experience and get all of the knowledge and gain all the knowledge that they possibly can to help them be successful once they leave our school,” Tompkins said. “We’re trying to prepare them to be as knowledgeable as possible with using the technology that is out there now to help them be successful would be the best way I know how to describe it.”
Tompkins said the district had to apply for the competitive grant rather than receiving the money automatically. The state will monitor the use of the funds.