WOODBURY — At a busy agricultural school, Woodbury FFA students are rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in a large-scale project that’s set to ensure animal care and farm safety. The focus of this effort? A brand-new set of fences to replace the old, worn-out barriers that have served the pastures for years.
This project, spearheaded by the junior/senior ag production classes, is one of the most exciting initiatives for the students this year. The decision to replace the old fencing was made after considering several important factors, according to Katie Gorman, the agriculture production teacher.
“The fence had become, in many ways, a hazard,” Gorman shared. “It would no longer hold the livestock it needed to hold, it’s decaying, the animals needed to be safely housed, and kids could get hurt.”
The new fence will improve both security and efficiency for managing livestock.
“We’re redesigning and restructuring it in a way that it removes some of the mundane, monotonous tasks that we have to do with our current set up,” Gorman continued. “The method in which we are putting the fencing backup is strictly to improve management.”
Mykal Kuslis, Nonnewaug’s principal, is excited about how the new fencing will directly benefit the program.
“The fencing for the cows and goats will give us access to all of the pastures and fresh streams with water all year round,” Kuslis explained. “It will allow more grazing for animals, flexibility, and less cost in feed.”
He even brought his personal tractor to the school to help out with the fencing, stressing how important it is to provide students with real-world experiences through the project.
“It was a slow time at our farm so I was able to use my access to the machine at the school. It gives more opportunities to students without having to rent a tractor,” Kuslis shared.
Students in the ag production class are excited to be involved in such a hands-on project.
“We usually go out to the barn and take care of the animals, and we do a good deal of in-class work, but this project is teaching us so much about how to properly care about animals,” said senior Kyleigh Paige, who is actively participating in the process.
For the students, the project is about more than just improving the farm; it’s about gaining valuable skills and learning how to collaborate on large projects.
As Gorman put it, “We’re looking to improve ourselves, like we always are, and we want to create an environment that gives students more time to be with the animals.”
