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"A gift from our community"
The Agriculture program at Polk County High School started with a greenhouse. It has grown to include a farm, which is considered to be a premier high school educational experience. We have a large Future Farmers of America student organization and typically 35%-50% of the PCHS students take at least one Agriculture class during their high school tenure. We have a rich history and our current Agriculture Teachers are graduates of Polk County’s Agriculture program. Mr. Barber graduated from Polk Central and Mrs. Gilbert is a graduate of PCHS.
HISTORY of the PCHS Farm
The school farm idea was given to Mr. Barber from a parent when at an FFA competition. The farm idea was presented to the superintendent who then presented it to the school board. Land adjacent to the school was currently for sale and the owner agreed to sell 7 acres to the school system for $170,000.
Numerous grants were written, farm related businesses donated and personal donations were accepted. Occupation Course of Study (OCS) students made and sold spirit buttons and were able to donate $1000 to the cause.
In a 10 month period, $125,000 was raised and the school board added the remaining $45,000 to purchase the property. Polk County High School donated 3 acres to provide a 10 acre farm to our Agriculture program which allows more hands on experience for our students.
Purchasing the land in 2006 was just a beginning. There was a lot of land to be cleared and a barn to be built which donations of logging, grading, plumbing, electrical, concrete and construction were provided to the school agriculture program. The PCHS Carpentry class provided a lot of the construction of the barn.
Chicken Coops were constructed by the agriculture classes.
Fencing was constructed for larger animals.
The farm includes an outdoor classroom.
Farm related businesses utilize the farm and outdoor classroom for meetings.
Students raise goats, calves, and chickens. We have a vineyard for muscadines and have a small apple orchard. They raise crops, learn about Animal Science, Agriculture Mechanics, Agriculture Production and Horticulture.
Polk County enjoys an unequaled community support for our agriculture program and we thank the numerous community members and businesses for their help and support.
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