Elizabethtown High School awarded grant to expand agriculture program

SIX. THE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM AT JOHN HARDEN HIGH SCHOOL IS BEING REWARDED WITH A GRANT FOR ITS GENEROSITY TO THE COMMUNITY. WLKY ZADEH MINERS TELLS US HOW THE SCHOOL IS PLANNING TO USE THE MONEY AND HOW IT WILL HELP THE FUTURE OF THE AG BUSINESS. STUDENTS AT JOHN HARDEN HIGH SCHOOL ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT SOLVING FUTURE PROBLEMS. 2050 WILL NO LONGER HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO REALLY SUSTAIN FOR THE ENTIRE PLANET WITH THE WAY THE POPULATION IS GROWING. WE DO HAVE RAW AG, BUT A LOT OF THE CITIES NOW ARE COMING INTO URBAN AG. I THINK THAT’S WHERE IT’S GOING. THAT’S WHERE THE INITIAL IDEA CAME FROM TO START USING HYDROPONICS TECHNOLOGY TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO GROW FOOD INDOORS. AND NOW, FOUR YEARS LATER, THE PROGRAM IS GETTING A $48,000 GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE SCHOOL OFFER STUDENTS A DUAL CREDIT HORTICULTURE COURSE. THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF MARKETING CURRICULUM, THE SCIENCE, THE BIOLOGY, EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO PRODUCING A HEALTHY HARVEST OF FOOD FOR STUDENTS. IT’S A FOUR YEAR PROGRAM, AND STUDENTS WILL START AS FRESHMEN. THE GOAL IS TO WORK TOGETHER TO GROW VEGETABLES AND FARM TILAPIA IN THEIR INDOOR LAB AND IN A MOBILE OUTREACH TRAILER. THEY’LL ALSO LEARN ABOUT RUNNING AN ACTIVITY. EACH YEAR, THE STUDENTS HARVEST OVER HUNDRED POUNDS OF TILAPIA IN THESE TANKS, AND EACH MONTH THEY’LL HARVEST OVER £700 OF LETTUCE THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE SCHOOL’S CAFETERIA. IT IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE LUNCH LINE, THAT’S OUR LETTUCE THAT THEY’RE FEEDING EVERYBODY AND IT’S OUR LIKE VEGETABLES THAT THEY’RE FEEDING EVERYBODY. SO IT’S REALLY COOL TO SEE OUR OTHER STUDENTS THAT AREN’T IN THE AG PATHWAY LIKE REALLY BE AFFECTED BY OUR WORK IN HERE. STUDENTS SAY THEY’RE JUST HAPPY TO GET TO CONTINUE HELPING THE COMMUNITY. IT’S HARD TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING WHEN YOU CAN PLANT

John Hardin High School integrated hydroponic technology into its agriculture program almost four years ago. On Tuesday, the school was awarded a grant to expand the program, thanks to its success. The United States Department of Agriculture is giving the high school a $48,071 grant, which will be integrated into the program over the course of two years. In the school's agriculture program, students grow lettuce and farm tilapia in the school's indoor lab. The lettuce that is grown is sold back to the school's cafeteria, and the tilapia harvested goes to a local food bank. With the grant, the school will create a dual credit horticulture course and an embedded school-based enterprise. Teacher Jeremy Hall says that over the course of four years, the students will get to experience what all it takes to run an agriculture business. " will be involved in all of the aspects of marketing curriculum, the science, the biology, everything that goes into producing a healthy harvest of food," Jeremy Hall said.Seniors in the program will work on a capstone project that will include the use of a new mobile hydroponic lab, which they'll use as an educational outreach hub. The students who are already involved love the program. Junior Catherine Updegraff says she really enjoys getting to help feed her fellow students and those who are food insecure in her town. "So I'm really hoping that everything that we do back here just continues to grow and grow and grow so we can make a bigger impact than we already are," said Updegraff.Senior Brayden Hall has been in the program since its inception in 2018. He says that with the growing population, the future of farming is dependent on finding new ways to produce fruits and vegetables. He believes this type of farming could help build a more sustainable future for all. "Even in places like New York City where there's not a lot of land, this can be done," said Hall. "A lot of the cities now are coming into urban AG. I think that's where it's all going."Jeremy Hall says he's glad his students are getting real-world experience. "We've seen this big increase in STEM in our community in the state of Kentucky," said Jeremy Hall. "So I want our students to be at the forefront of that kind of technology, so they can go out and have successful careers."

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. —

John Hardin High School integrated hydroponic technology into its agriculture program almost four years ago. On Tuesday, the school was awarded a grant to expand the program, thanks to its success.

The United States Department of Agriculture is giving the high school a $48,071 grant, which will be integrated into the program over the course of two years.

In the school's agriculture program, students grow lettuce and farm tilapia in the school's indoor lab. The lettuce that is grown is sold back to the school's cafeteria, and the tilapia harvested goes to a local food bank.

With the grant, the school will create a dual credit horticulture course and an embedded school-based enterprise.

Teacher Jeremy Hall says that over the course of four years, the students will get to experience what all it takes to run an agriculture business.

"[Students] will be involved in all of the aspects of marketing curriculum, the science, the biology, everything that goes into producing a healthy harvest of food," Jeremy Hall said.

Seniors in the program will work on a capstone project that will include the use of a new mobile hydroponic lab, which they'll use as an educational outreach hub.

The students who are already involved love the program. Junior Catherine Updegraff says she really enjoys getting to help feed her fellow students and those who are food insecure in her town.

"So I'm really hoping that everything that we do back here just continues to grow and grow and grow so we can make a bigger impact than we already are," said Updegraff.

Senior Brayden Hall has been in the program since its inception in 2018. He says that with the growing population, the future of farming is dependent on finding new ways to produce fruits and vegetables.

He believes this type of farming could help build a more sustainable future for all. "Even in places like New York City where there's not a lot of land, this can be done," said Hall. "A lot of the cities now are coming into urban AG. I think that's where it's all going."

Jeremy Hall says he's glad his students are getting real-world experience.

"We've seen this big increase in STEM in our community in the state of Kentucky," said Jeremy Hall. "So I want our students to be at the forefront of that kind of technology, so they can go out and have successful careers."

Elizabethtown High School awarded grant to expand agriculture program

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