WOODBURY — Dinner table discussion starts with: “How was your day at school?”
Now teenagers get to ask their parents the same question.
Nonnewaug’s recurring adult ag-ed seminars give the community an opportunity to learn some of the many aspects of agriculture. Classes ranging from beginners’ welding to equine massage therapy appeal to a variety of interests.
Events like this promote the Woodbury FFA by creating opportunities that involve the community, bringing positive exposure to the program, as well as raising funds for the FFA.
“We really want to have a connection with the community,” said Mykal Kuslis, Nonnewaug’s principal. “To be able to share things like welding skills, dog grooming and some of the other things offered in these classes is just one of the ways our program reaches the community. Even though there is a small charge, it’s one of those ways that we can give back and showcase some of our program.”
Offering these classes brings in many interesting and talented people who get to showcase their skills.
“I am the state apiary inspector,” said Paula Wolf, who taught classes about beekeeping. “My job has made me very passionate about improving bee health in the state. I enjoy helping teach people about beekeeping because I think it’s an important part of our agriculture system.”
Hosting these classes brings together Nonnewaug instructors, adults from the community, and even students who assist in teaching classes as well. The community continues to come together, making this event a recurring success.
“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from the adults,” said Kuslis. “Also, some of the kids have worked with the events, and everyone really enjoys that aspect of it. We’ve heard [participants] want us to expand our offerings and try to bring in more classes. It helps us stay up to date with industry trends and bring other people into the program as we need it.”
The beauty of this event is that Woodbury FFA is not strictly limited to what is taught in class. Specialists are able to showcase their skills and dive deeper into areas of agriculture that may be unknown to the general public.
“It’s fun to reach out to people and help them figure out their problems in beekeeping,” said Wolf. “It is a very complex hobby, and there is a lot to learn in beekeeping.”
Woodbury FFA gives many hobbyists and specialists an outlet to showcase their skills. It also gives participants a place to explore their interests, or gain potential interests.
“Generally it’s been a pretty positive way for us to give back to the community,” said Kuslis. “We try to get people to just get the chance to learn new skills that they might not otherwise have known.”
