WOODBURY — The class of 2028 is coming faster to Nonnewaug than many people realized.

Potential ag students of the class of 2028 navigated through the Ellis Clark building earlier this fall. Current members conducted tours around the building and spoke to visitors about the opportunities Nonnewaug has to offer.

This year’s open house brought families ranging from a wide variety of school districts. EIghth graders traveled from towns as far as Bethany to as immediate as Middlebury.

“I saw a lot of people very interested,” said junior Dan Coyle, a student in Nonnewaug’s equine science program. “Our section seemed to inspire many of the eight-graders to want to come [to Nonnewaug] for their freshman year.” 

Passionate students strive to advocate for Nonnewaug’s agriscience program, and current FFA students played a vital role in advocating for the program’s success.

“My main goal during the open house was to inspire the students to apply to Nonnewaug for their freshman year,” said junior Haley Sarandrea. “I think we did a good job showing how Nonnewaug has one of the best programs around, and how fun it is [at Nonnewaug].”

“My main goal was to convince [eighth-graders] to come here and show them how cool the program is,” junior Cameron Frasier said.

Students and instructors use this annual event to show off the extensive opportunities that are offered.  Students in the mechanics class demonstrated welding, the agriculture production class showed the process of cheese making, and students in natural resources class displayed tree climbing and harnesses.

“I wanted to show [the eighth-graders] the exceptional learning experiences we have here at Nonnewaug while I was demonstrating tree climbing,” said senior Colin Frechette. “I want to inspire them to be star students in natural resources like me someday.”  

The applications for next year’s freshmen are due Dec. 1. Interested eighth-graders are eager to be accepted into the program after going to the open house.

“The open house was very good,” said eighth-grader Danielle Falls. “I liked how there were students in every class showing how everything worked and what you would be doing in each class if you joined them. I am most interested in veterinary science, mechanics, and ag production class.”

“Overall, I think the night was a big success,” said Sarandrea. “The students and parents seemed very interested in the cool things we do at our school.”

The chaos from the weeks of preparation seemed to pay off for the Nonnewaug FFA chapter. Eighth-graders were impressed with the event, and current FFA members think that this unique program is responsible for such a great outcome.

“At the open house we were able to show how Nonnewaug has experiences you won’t find at another high school,” said Frechette. “Our program is one of a kind.”