WOODBURY – Being an ag student at Nonnewaug isn’t like any other average high school experience. Between the hands-on classes, educationally-driven field trips and opportunities to fly places you wouldn’t usually pick, Nonnewaug provides it all.
This year the ag program has scheduled a spring break trip to Ireland where students will spend 10 days not only enjoying their time sightseeing, but also learning about the lives of farmers in Ireland.
For students like senior Nicole Dicello, a trip like this was unexpected, and initially one she thought would be a family experience, though NHS agriscience brought this month’s Ireland trip to life. Nonnewaug High School agriscience has a custom of creating these experiences for students.
“I say it’s different from all the ones around because it provides a lot more opportunities,” Dicello says. “Within the ag program there are so many different field trips and places that you can go that you wouldn’t be able to [at any other school].”
Having opportunities like this in high school not only gives experience to students but gives another look on what life could be post-grad. In 2024, NHS ag brought 14 students to Yellowstone National Park, and for one specific individual he’s taking that experience and moving onward with it.
“Being out in Utah, Wyoming and Montana showed me a side of the U.S I had never thought of even traveling to,” senior Nate Berry said. “Because of all I experienced on the trip, I began looking out west for colleges, and eventually I settled on the University of Montana.”
Having the opportunity to travel outside of a comfort zone can create a memorable experience, especially when it comes to seeing family you may not see every day. For one, this trip is even more special than expected.
“I’m in a bit of a different situation because my brother lives in Ireland, so I’m very excited to have the opportunity to go see him,” NHS ag-production teacher Katie Gorman said. “I’m very excited to go and see family that I don’t get to see a lot, and also have those moments with my students in terms of giving them experiences that no one else can.”
These trips are provided to students to show them what life outside of their “usual” day to day life looks like. Not many high school students are able to tell those around them they went to Ireland with some of their best friends, furthermore they often wouldn’t tell people they had the chance to see farm life from a different perspective.
“First and foremost this trip is geared to ag in that the things we are going to see is agriculture in action,” Ag director Lee Whalen said. “[Students] will be visiting local farms, the national stud farm which is a prestigious horse farm, an apple farm, a dairy cattle farm in Galway, and [students] are visiting an Oyster farm.”
As the students say their farewell, there’s a collective gratitude to the agriscience faculty who work tirelessly to plan experiences that take students beyond the classroom.
“We offer opportunities that are much different than surrounding agriscience programs,” said Gorman. “Our curriculum and our extracurriculars are much stronger than other districts that I have worked with and some of that comes from our longevity [as an FFA program]. After 105 years, we’ve learned a few things and part of it comes from the strength of our teachers; we have extremely strong teachers within the state of Connecticut.”
A trip abroad, a cross-country journey–these adventures culminate in creating life changing chances for NHS students to explore the potential of what agriculture means beyond Nonnewaug.
