Ag science students growing flowers for FFA fundraiser
March 1, 2024 / Henley High School ag science CTE students have moved into their new classroom – a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse outfitted with an aquaponics watering and fertilizing system, a hydroponic grow table, and plenty of space for hands-on projects and plants.
Henley High teacher Gretchen Iverson teaches four CTE (career technical education) classes – intro to agriculture, ag production, plant science, and food science in the new greenhouse. The food science classes will utilize a smaller, older greenhouse for growing produce. FFA and ag science students also will have individual and school-based agribusiness enterprises by raising, marketing, and selling plants they grow. The first sale will be in May for Mother’s Day.
On Wednesday, ag production students were transplanting starts into hanging baskets for the upcoming Mother’s Day sale. Meanwhile, sophomore Cayden Schweiger worked on setting up the aquaponics system, which will be used to water and fertilize some of the plants in the greenhouse.
Schweiger will start with gold fish and eventually add talpia to the tank. “It’s really nice in here,” he said, gesturing to the new space.
The $91,770 project was paid for through the district’s general fund. In addition to Henley, Bonanza, Mazama, and Lost River also have greenhouses that are utilized by agriculture and plant science CTE students.
|