Agriscience Center: Celebrating 60 Years

In 1966, the Suffield Regional Vocational Agriculture Program received its official state charter, marking the establishment of the Suffield Regional Future Farmers of America Chapter. While our name has evolved into the Suffield Regional Agriscience Education Program, the essence of our mission has remained constant, highlighting the enduring significance of place-based learning. This concept, often perceived as a recent educational trend, has been exemplified by our program for the past six decades!

Our success is encapsulated in our four-line motto, which every student not only memorizes but embodies daily as part of their agricultural education: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”

The primary goal of agricultural education is to provide students with opportunities to explore their interests through the three circle model that centers on classroom lab based instruction, leadership and community service, and supervised career skill experiences. Ninth graders begin with an introductory agriculture course, while tenth graders advance to Agriculture Biology and Agriculture II pathways. As juniors and seniors, students select two classes per semester, specializing in advanced topics such as plant science, animal science, agricultural business, natural resources, or power systems. Our facilities include a 3,000-square-foot glass greenhouse, a floral lab, a land lab, small and large animal facilities, a dog kennel, and a grooming lab. Additionally, we have an aquaculture lab, a welding and mechanics shop, and various tractors and power equipment. These resources empower students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in STEM agriculture fields.

Since the fall of 2013, our program enrollment has surged from 91 to 173 students. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the addition of a large animal facility, expanded property, a courtyard, a robust curriculum featuring five UConn Early College Experience courses, an additional staff member, and a strong reputation for cultivating 21st-century skills, resulting in over a 48% increase in enrollment.

Our curriculum extends beyond the classroom and into the community. Floral design classes often support local programs by providing fresh flowers for special events, such as graduations and gymnastics shows, including this year’s Teacher of the Year reception at the Bushnell in early December. Students grow geraniums in the greenhouse as part of the Memorial Day town remembrance, with support from the Suffield VFW to honor those who served. The large animal facility supports the Suffield Farmers Market, where students create and market their products. Using our truck, trailer, staff, and students, we provide animals for Suffield Alight. Our ninth graders volunteer over 100 hours at Sunrise Park, and we frequently donate flowers, funds, and wreaths to the community. We invite the community to our Holiday Sale, and many local businesses and stakeholders participate in the expanding “Make It and Take It Night” as part of this event. Students collaborate with family, friends, and alumni to organize and host an Agstravaganza Bingo Night at the high school in March, providing an excellent opportunity for students to plan a major fundraiser and connect with the community. This year, we will host our Ag Expo, featuring agricultural education displays for elementary students, workshops for high school students, and open doors for our students’ to showcase their agriculture experiences to the community.

Our students also engage in agriculture experience projects outside of the school day that require documentation of 150 hours each year, working on farms, volunteering for community projects, creating agricultural businesses, and conducting research. Currently, students are working at community-based places like Hasting Farms, Day Hill Kennels, Brown’s Harvest, Hilltop Farm, Roaring Acres, Sunny Hill, and Rue and Co Flower Farm, to name a few.

We take pride in our program being recognized by the state as an exceptional three-circle program—one that is truly place-based. It blurs the lines between school, community, and the natural world, effectively preparing students for future careers through their experiences in agricultural education.

At this year’s National FFA Convention, eleven Suffield High School students who completed the agriscience program will receive the prestigious American FFA Degree, the highest honor attainable by an FFA member. This achievement is a remarkable recognition for our school, requiring each student to document over 2,500 hours of place-based agricultural experience, generate a minimum of $7,500 in educational or occupational investment, complete over 50 hours of community service, and engage at the state level in FFA leadership activities. Students can only apply for this degree after graduating from the program.

On May 29 and 30, Suffield Agriscience is planning a 60th anniversary celebration of Agriculture Education at Suffield High School. This open invitation reunion is in the preliminary stages, but we hope to incorporate tours of local agricultural industries our graduates partner with, along with workshops and tours at the Agriscience program and a formal presentation to celebrate the achievements of our program graduates and stakeholders. If you would like to be part of the planning committee, or would like more information as the event progresses, please reach out to Dr. Laura LaFlamme at the Agriscience Program office.