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TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – The Tuscaloosa County School District is about to make history. Agriculture industry leaders say the first and only scientific agriculture farm of its kind at the high school level is just weeks away from opening. Brian Henry joins us from his hometown of Finnell Road in northern Tuscaloosa County.
The farm is about 70 acres, and the original plan was to build a new elementary school on the land, but it failed last year’s property taxes.
County Agent Neil Hagle said Alabama Power is busy installing new utility poles, all part of a larger plan to provide power and a key component to keeping farms functioning. That’s what it means.
“We are making this farm practical so that K-12 students can use this farm to learn about it. They can do field trips here, and they can stay here for a long time. We have plans to build a building with indoor classrooms,” said Tuscaloosa County Extension Agent Neil Hagle.
“Get out of here and get your hands dirty,” says 17-year-old Cade Holcomb.
All of this is right up Tuscaloosa County High School student Cade Holcomb’s alley. Holcomb’s grandfather is a farmer. This, he says, took him to a whole new level.
“We just grow crops, so we want to understand more about farming and raising animals,” Holcomb says.
“We have everything here: orchards, fruit trees, cows, sheep, goats, ponds,” Hagle said.
The overall goal is to introduce students to agriculture in hopes of becoming a part of it in some way.
“We are losing too many farmers. The average age of a farmer in Alabama is 58 years old, and while many are retired and selling their farmland for subdivision, there are many farmers who do more than just farm. There are a lot of things,” Hagl said.
Maybe you’ll be a drone pilot, a biologist, or in the wildlife field. Hagl says the list is endless.
“I was able to participate in this wonderful project,” says teenager Diego Hernandez.
Diego Hernandez says he may change his career path from engineering to making a living on track.
“I love being able to collaborate with others and get my hands dirty,” he says.
Neil Hagle said a schoolteacher came up with the idea for an outdoor science farm and pitched it to the county extension office, which then worked with the Tuscaloosa County School District. I got a “like”.
“As far as we know, this is probably one of the only farms like this in the state, as far as we know,” he says.
And Cade Holcomb and Diego Hernandez find it exciting to be part of something special from the ground up.
Neil Hagle said costs to date have been covered by donations and grants.
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