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Kentucky teachers are awarded the ‘National Excellence in  Teaching About Agriculture’
 
By Doug Graves
Ohio Correspondent

FLEMINGSBURG, Ky. – Paul King is a science teacher. Brad Hay teaches social studies. Both teach seventh- and eighth-graders at Simons Middle School in Flemingsburg. The two developed a hands-on learning environment called Cougar Hill Farm that exposes students to innovative agricultural concepts, career pathways, public speaking opportunities and teaching lessons on agriculture at the local elementary school.
Their four years of hard work and success hasn’t gone unnoticed as the two were among eight other teachers across the country to receive the National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture award.
The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and Farm Credit partner each year to honor teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade from around the country for the innovative ways they use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) and more.
“These outstanding teachers recognize that agriculture also is a fertile ground for teaching botany, biology, chemistry, finance, climatology and arts, in ways that any age or level of students can understand and apply to their daily lives,” said Dr. Carrie Castille, director of NIFA. “When a student makes that real-life connection to the lessons their teachers share, students continue to learn and absorb the true meaning of those lessons when they leave the classroom. Innovative teachers like these are often responsible for awakening a student’s love of learning, nature and science.”
Neither King nor Hay were raised on a farm, but by looking at landscape surrounding Simons Junior High you might guess otherwise. What started as a small greenhouse four years ago has evolved into a small agriculture setting, one where students can learn about plant growth, fish, compost, bees, honey, orchards and much more.
“They formed an FFA here at Simons High School this year and our High School has a large FFA,” King said. “We are catering more toward the kids who normally would not be interested in a traditional FFA organization but are interested in learning how things work. Most of our students like the freedom that we give them to explore other opportunities in agriculture and business.”
Located 40 miles northeast of Lexington, Simons Middle School is in a small rural city nestled in the northeastern hills of Kentucky, surrounded by rolling farmland and hillsides. There are 2,280 who call Flemingsburg home.
The school rests atop a large hill. Their mascot is the Cougar. Thus the name for their agricultural venture – Cougar Hill Farm.
“We are not an FFA chapter, ours is just a class that the students can sign up for,” Hay explained. “There are 300 students in the entire school, and 90 to 100 participate in what we have to offer. We’re self-funded so anything we do has to make us some money. We haven’t received a dime from our school.”
After submitting a proposal to the school district and obtaining a small grant in 2018, the two teachers immediately got to work.
“This all began four years ago when we wanted to have a greenhouse,” King said. “We spoke to the kids about the plans and one student’s mom worked for the local conservation district. We worked with them as well as Lowe’s.”
In short time they erected an 8-by-12-foot greenhouse, thanks in large part to Kentucky State University which allowed them use of their ‘scrap yard’.
“Kentucky State University showed us their scrap yard, things they couldn’t use any more. We started to add to the structure here and there. We were rolling right along,” King said.
 In their second year of this venture, their plans were shelved for roughly six months, mainly due to COVID-19.
The third year saw plenty of growth. With a greenhouse they needed compost, so they turned to the two local grocery stores in town that gave them green scraps. Twice each week a few students head to those stores and fill trash cans with discarded produce. To this day, King, Hay and the 90 students produce roughly 4,000 pounds of compost annually.
That same year a few of the students suggested having bee boxes, but the city has an ordinance against raising bees in the city limits. Those same students wrote letters and even went to city council to give speeches on why the school should be allowed to have the bees. Their efforts were fruitful and the school received an educational addendum to maintain bee boxes.
This, the fourth year, saw the construction of a 6-by-8-foot greenhouse, as expansion was necessary. The students wanted to learn more about orchards, so the group purchased 25 apple trees from a landscaper who had extra trees he wanted to get rid of. Those trees will be planted alongside a walking path that runs through the school grounds. Thanks to those trees they plan to learn about grafting this spring.
They’ve also gotten their feet wet with raising catfish in the past, and this year they’re raising 200 tilapia.
“We had to obtain a permit from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to do this,” Hay said. “They’re easy to breed and we raise them to sell.”
One group of students works to build and sell bird houses. Another group builds and sells bird feeders. One group makes it their responsibility to sell the honey that comes from the hives, while another makes use of the beeswax and sells candles and lip balm. Last fall the students raised and sold mums and sunflowers.
“Again, we grow what is easiest to sell,” Hay said.
This spring their goal is to raise four types of tomato plants, two types of pepper plants and two varieties of cucumbers. All told, they’re growing 200 plants in their two greenhouses. “We’re not trying to get rich or anything like that. In fact, we’ll sell them pretty cheap,” King said.
In the next few months they hope complete a community garden that will be next to their orchard.
There are four elementary school in this district. King and Hay have installed several 10-gallon, aquaponic tanks for fourth graders at one of those schools.
“We thought we’d indoctrinate them early on this subject as it fits in with their curriculum,” Hay said. “This is a way of giving them a heads up on what they might be doing once they get up here. By that time, they’ll be off and running. I can tell you this, the kids really get involved with all this.”
Added King, “A lot of kids we have in our classes are not from a farming background. Most of the kids coming through our classes will likely never get involved with farming or even have a greenhouse. It’s unbelievable how many of our kids didn’t know where honey comes from, nor have they ever tasted a honeycomb.”
The two teachers will be honored at the 2022 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, June 28-July 1, at the Saratoga Springs City Center and Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

5/17/2022