If the level of maturity, enthusiasm, poise, and intelligence of high schoolers is a reliable predictor of their future success, then Dr. Laura LaFlamme and her staff at Suffield High’s Regional Agriscience Center are minting solid winners.
10th-grader Koa Matteson showed off Apollo, a leopard gecko, at the Agriscience Open House on November 6.
On November 6, LaFlamme, the program director, hosted 250 to 300 8th graders and their families at an Open House I attended. As a regional center, Suffield’s program accepts students from Avon, East Granby, East Hartland, East Windsor, Enfield, Granby, Hartford, Simsbury, Suffield, West Hartford and Windsor Locks.
Exuberant students
Excitement charged the air from the moment I stepped through the entrance; students held doors, politely said, “Thank you for visiting,” and directed visitors with enthusiasm. They were having fun together and exhibiting unmistakable school pride.
Nicholas, a student guide in the aquaculture lab, showed me the Center’s aquaponics system. Growing in a base of small stones immersed in water circulating from a nearby fish tank are dozens of the same plant. Nicholas explained, “It’s kind of a mini ecosystem. The fish live off the nutrients that the plants provide, and the plants live off the nutrients that the fish provide.”
At the grooming lab, Sara, a sophomore, and Makayla, a junior, both from East Windsor, showed me the dog washing and drying stations. They explained the hair trimming and toenail clipping they perform, as well as their importance in meeting breed standards for students participating in American Kennel Club-approved shows.
I visited the reptile lab and the separately located large animal facility. Noah, a Simsbury junior, was tending three goats. As an 8th grader, he had attended an earlier Open House and knew immediately that the Center was right for him. He shows his goats at the Big E and other venues and plans on pursuing a two-year Animal Science degree at UConn.
Nate, in the woodworking/mechanics lab, pointed out the welding machines, metal-cutting tools, a partially dismantled 1950s farm tractor, and wood-framing areas. He proudly boasted that the lab had recently built a chicken coop for the Center.
A school within a school
At an information session, LaFlamme, the program director, explained that the 172 students of the Agriscience Center enjoy all the benefits and opportunities afforded to regular Suffield High students. They can join the band, chorus, drama club and football team. Additionally, they must adhere to Suffield High’s curriculum requirements to be eligible for graduation. The agriscience courses they take are in addition to the required courses, so it’s a full course load for most of the four years, with few free periods.
Prospective students, including those from Suffield, are required to apply and participate in an interview. The Center seeks applicants with a strong interest in agriculture and usually accepts 40 to 45 applicants annually. Last year, the acceptance rate was about 70%, which is “pretty typical,” said LaFlamme. All 11 participating towns have equal access.
LaFlamme stated that the Center would disregard infractions, such as tardiness and missed homework assignments, as well as disciplinary issues that appear on a prospective student’s record up to the date of the Open House, November 6. “From now on till January, I want to see no problems,” she stressed. “So, don’t count yourself out if you’re doing those struggles, and don’t count yourself out if you’re not a really strong student. Don’t count yourself in if you’re a straight-A student, because it’s really your agriculture interest and fit with the program [that matters].”
Benefits beyond the courses
In addition to classes, Agriscience students are required to take on leadership roles through the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Sophomores through seniors spend 150 hours annually on an agriculture-related project.
The learning experiences provided by these components far exceed those of regular high school enrollment, according to several people I interviewed.
Simone, a senior from Suffield, said that learning how to speak in public was the most significant benefit of attending the Agriscience Center. She credits her position as an officer in the local FFA chapter with providing her with speaking opportunities at conventions in Indianapolis and Connecticut. She plans on becoming an agricultural teacher. She said that her SAE, which involved managing horses at a local equestrian farm, has given her invaluable hands-on experience.
Former student Janine Eitel, now a sophomore at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, headed the Biennial Ag Expo at the Center during her senior year. Students showcased their expertise and projects, provided tours and put on demonstrations. She said, “I definitely gained a lot of experience in planning events and time management.” She also praised the Center for providing other leadership opportunities, including career development events that involve competition and livestock judging.
Danel Eitel, Janine’s mother, credits the leadership opportunities as one of the reasons why Janine and her older sister, Sidney, were accepted into competitive colleges. Sidney is also a former Agriscience grad. Danel is a 9th-grade science teacher in South Windsor, so she understands what works and doesn’t. She noted, “I think project-based learning [the SAE model] is super important, especially for those kids who aren’t so academic. My daughters had some amazing opportunities that they wouldn’t have had in the standard high school program.”
She also said that as a high school teacher, she’s typically at school from 7 am to 4 pm. Applauding the Agriscience teachers, she said, “It’s nothing compared to what these guys do. It is a lifestyle for them. They’re truly there all the time.”
The deadline for applying to the Suffield Regional Agriscience Center is December 11. The application is on the Suffield High School website.
