From veterinary science to natural resource management, a new educational facility in York is expanding the career horizons for students in grades 6-12. The York Public Schools Agriscience Center will allow students to explore a wide range of careers in agriculture, while gaining hands-on experience and transferable life skills. 

This new training facility will be supported in part by a $10,000 contribution through the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District’s Educational Capital Projects Fund (ECAP). The purpose of the NRD's ECAP Fund is to create, develop, or enhance natural resources related educational capital projects that create experiential learning environments and opportunities for district citizens. These projects are generally constructed on school property, however, can be located elsewhere. Recent ECAP funded projects include an outdoor classroom, FFA community garden, and a greenhouse. 

The York Public Schools Foundation purchased the property east of the NRD headquarters building for the agriscience center. The facility has three buildings on two acres, offering plenty of space for the program offerings to grow. When the buildings have been renovated for new use, there will be classrooms, offices, and barn space. The surrounding acres offer in-town students the space to work with show animals for competition at the County Fair, something that they might not be able to do otherwise.

The skills that students will develop through access to the Agriscience Education Center are transferable to other areas of life, York High School ag teacher Jason Hirschfeld explained. Students often don't know where their food comes from. Taking courses and working with animals at the facility will increase their agricultural literacy as well as technical skills.

The York Public Schools Foundation provided $285,000 for the project. They have secured funding from corporate sponsors and individual donors totaling $552,000. Additional funds of $500,000 have been pledged and are expected to be collected through 2027. This brings the total of funds secured for the product project to $1.3 million. The total project is expected to exceed $2,000,000.

Hirschfeld and Sally Ruben with the York Public Schools Foundation attended the NRD board of directors meeting in May to answer questions about the project as their request for ECAP funds was considered. York High School currently offers six classes that comprise an animal science career pathway, Hirschfeld explained. They also have an animal care lab at the high school that houses 100 animals, from geckos to mice, and chickens to pigs. The current facility at the high school has no further space for expansion, necessitating the purchase of the new property slightly more than a mile from the high school.

Through the existing animal science programing, York students are able to see a complete production cycle for the life of an animal, from hatch to harvest. Caring for animals daily allows them to develop empathy, work ethic, and a sense of responsibility, said Hirschfeld. The classes and animal lab experience can lead students into future careers in agriculture, whether they grew up on a farm or not. 

The new agriscience center will provide an expanded resource for this career path opportunity. Beyond animal science, students will also be able to gain job skills in veterinary science, meat science, food science, agronomy, natural resources, wildlife management, and agriculture technology. York Public Schools will be able to offer more classes through the center that could lead to multiple types of certifications through their partnership with Southeast Community College, which offers dual credit courses. Currently, YPS offers students certifications in welding and agriculture fundamentals through SCC. Hirschfeld hopes to add a certification in agriculture technology in the near future. 

Additional details on the agriscience center can be found here and here.

Applications for ECAP funds are accepted throughout the year and are voted on by the NRD board of directors each May. For more information or to apply, visit www.upperbigblue.org/education.