WOODBURY — Woodbury FFA members are bustling around the Ellis Clark building in preparation for the annual open house.

Students and educators are stressing to prepare the building to its full potential so that visitors can see all of what the program has to offer Oct. 17, when the Ellis Clark Regional Agriscience program invites eighth-grade students and family to view the program in action from 6-8 p.m.

Students currently involved in the program work hard to arrange the classroom and learning areas for the open house. FFA officers organize the tours and plan the schedule.

“We’ve been discussing what we are going to do, such as tours and how we are going to help with setup,” says Samantha Kostka, president of the Woodbury FFA Chapter. “We’ve been discussing strategies of what is going to go on that day.”

Agriscience faculty are also preparing their educational spaces to show how Nonnewaug’s program performs in real time.  

“We started preparing for Tuesday by cleaning the six-bay garage,” says landscaping instructor Tom DiMarco. “I think it’s really important to bring in the next generation of students to continue the great program we have.”

It’s not only the officers and instructors, but other students also find a desire to create an influence on possible future members.  

“I inspire eighth-graders by showing them what you could do in the shop,” said junior Jakob Reynolds. “Last year [during open house] I gave them the background of mechanics class.”

“When I went to the open house [as an eighth-grader],” said Henry Strzelecki, a freshman, “it gave me a good idea of what the program had to offer.”

Not only is the agriscience building open for potential members of the class of 2028, it is also open for Board of Education members to view the building, helping to create a positive relationship with the people hosting the event. It seems to inspire students to show the passion they have about being part of the agriscience program. 

“There’s so much you can say to hype up the program,” says Kostka. “You really don’t get the full experience until you see how the program really runs.”