What’s Right With Our Schools: school club makes positive difference in students’ lives

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Houston County Schools are preparing sixth, seventh and eighth graders to become future farmers.

They’re getting a chance to eat the food they’re growing at school.

“I grew up on a farm and now when I go to my grandparents’ house, I understand what my grandpa is doing when he is herding his cows,” says seventh grader Ashton Johnson.

Ashton Johnson is one of many students at Huntington Middle School who is learning something that will change her life forever.

“It really opened my eyes to a lot,” Johnson adds.

These students are part of the FFA, or Future Farmers of America. It’s a club that teaches students how to become leaders, work together, and learn the fundamentals of farming.

“It’s helped me discover myself and grow as a person and really get in touch with what I like to do and what I stand for. It’s really like opened me up to be a more confident person,” says Kimberly Chravry who attends Huntington Middle.

The students learn concepts and about different parts of the plants in the classroom, then they go to the greenhouse for hands-on learning.

Tracy Ford, FFA Advisor says, “They get involved with building raised beds, planting raised beds. They actually get to see the process from the beginning to the end.From the seed to the actual produce being picked, cooked and served.”

Students grow carrots, collard greens, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash and so much more.

“Some of my students have never seen fruits and vegetables grown,” Ford adds.

Thanks to FFA, that’s now a thing of the past.

“Being able to grow my own food,I know where it has been. I know what I am doing with it because it’s my food,” Johnson explains.

Kennedy McIntyre, a member of the club adds, “Working from in the classroom to outside helped me as well because you get to learn all the different parts as well as touch all of the vegetables and plants.”

Last year, students completed a community service project at the Warner Robins Rehabilitation Center Nursing Home. They built two raised gardens and planted them for patients.