In rural Glades County agriculture, hands-on work, and responsibility are part of daily life. Learning is most powerful when it connects directly to students lived experiences.
This year, Glades Education Foundation funded 12 teacher grants through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant. These programs are turning classrooms into places where learning is active, relevant, and deeply tied to the world just beyond the school doors.
Agriculture remains at the heart of this work. Through a funded agriculture project, students in one middle-school class are raising animals for a market show—caring for them daily while learning responsibility, budgeting, and the economics of agricultural production. They kept a record of how much feed was utilized, and kept 2 of the calves (heifers) for next year, and sold a bull calf. They were able to calculate the amount the heifers were worth upon keeping them, as well as the money we received from the sale of the bull calf.
Agriculture remains at the heart of this work. Through a funded agriculture project, students in one middle-school class are raising animals for a market show—caring for them daily while learning responsibility, budgeting, and the economics of agricultural production. They kept a record of how much feed was utilized, and kept 2 of the calves (heifers) for next year, and sold a bull calf. They were able to calculate the amount the heifers were worth upon keeping them, as well as the money we received from the sale of the bull calf.
"I believe that the hands-on experience provided by having these animals on campus helped to push them to pass that difficult exam, so we appreciate the help!"
Ag Teacher Andie Tindall’s class, all eight students who took the rigorous AEST Ag Systems Associate Certification passed the exam. These experiences mirror real agricultural careers and reinforce skills essential for both college and the workforce.
