Each year we offer independent study coursework that allows a student or small group of students to operate the Aquaponics System.  They are charged with producing an aquaponics crop that can be utilized in the Farm to School Program, which provides food for the school lunch program.  Thank you to Blyzo Fish Farm of Promise City, IA for assisting us in fish selection for our system.

Our program was blessed to with the completion of the Central Decatur Greenhouse.  This provides a great opportunity for our students in increase their knowledge in plant science, but also opened up the opportunity for one student to serve as Greenhouse Manager.  The Greenhouse Manager is charged with tracking inventory, creating a planting and harvesting schedule, managing all greenhouse operations to insure efficient growth, greenhouse sales, and greenhouse sanitation.

Each year students enrolled in the CASE ASA ~ Animal Science course are given the opportunity to raise and butcher 25 broilers.  These students are able to learn about poultry nutrition, disease management, sanitation, food safety and handling, and humane care of animals.  Once butchered, these broilers are packaged with the assistance of Joy Evertsen, Nutrition Services Director at Central Decatur, and utilized as part of the Farm to School Program in school lunches.  This project is made possible by the generous guidance of the Porter Family and Friends!  Thank you Lisa Porter!

Our school was recently awarded a USDA Farm to School Grant.  This grant has afforded many amazing opportunities to incorporate agriculture into our school, but is also allowing us to purchase a Farrowing Trailer.  This self-contained, mobile farrowing trailer is being designed and built by Featherlite Trailers through the support of Central Iowa Featherlite Trailer in Bondurant, IA.  The Farrowing Trailer will house one bred sow and allow our students hands-on learning on the management of a farrowing operation on a small scale, not only will this benefit students at Central Decatur Community School, but it will also be shared with the agriculture program at Lamoni Community School.

Since receiving the USDA Farm to School Grant we have had the opportunity to farrow out a sow.  These farrowed piglets will be raised by our agriculture students at our new swine facility.  This facility will allow us to produce a quality product for the school lunch program!

Do to the generosity of so many we were able to build a cattle facility to allow us to feed out 2 market steers.  These steers will be purchased at a weight of 700-800 pounds and will be cared for daily by members of the agriculture business class.  This facility will allow us to produce a quality product for the school lunch program!

New this year we will incorporate the Fodder Machine to grow our own Fodder to feed the cattle!