Upperman High School will begin construction on a new post-frame barn next month to provide students with hands-on experience in production agriculture.
CTE Supervisor for Putnam County Schools Jackie Vester said the school board approved a $138,000 agreement with Sullivan Walter Construction to build the 1,700-square-foot facility.
“Production agriculture is what provides our food,” Vester said. “A lot of students are displaced from the family farm and from agriculture, so this is going to give them a hands-on opportunity to see that production agriculture in action instead of just in the classroom in a textbook.”
Vester said the facility will serve as a demonstration site where teachers can bring in various animals to align with the school curriculum. The barn could house cattle, goats, hogs, or chickens for educational purposes.
“We’re really excited about this project, it’s been a long time coming,” Vester said. “We’ve had some back and forth and had to actually retract a previous bid and move to our second bidders, Sullivan Walters, and so we’re really excited to now be moving forward with this project.”
Vester said the district has not yet determined which animals might be kept permanently on the campus.
“It’s the same reason we have greenhouses on our campuses so that students can see what goes into producing fruits, vegetables, commercial flowers, plants,” Vester said. “We’re hoping to replicate that with the barn at Upperman for the animal side.”
Vester said the state Innovative School Models Grant is funding the entire project. These vocational grants allow the district to expand Career Technical Education programs without utilizing local taxpayer funds.
“It’s an essential part of a student’s education because it’s teaching the skills that they’re going to use in the workforce,” Vester said. “And all of our students, the goal is for all of our students, no matter what path they take, to end up with a career in the workforce.”
Vester said the facility could eventually host events for the Baxter FFA chapter or district-level competitions for the Highland Rim district. There may also be future opportunities to coordinate activities with local 4-H chapters.