CONNORVILLE — Buckeye Local High School’s newly formed agricultural education program is reaping the benefits of a $25,000 Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation grant to aid education and establish a greenhouse on the campus.

The OFBF announced the Green Growth Gateway: Cultivating Futures at Buckeye Local Schools project as the 2025 recipient of the Youth Pathways for Careers in Agriculture Grant and the funding will assist in developing programs to introduce and prepare students for careers within the state’s agriculture sector.

“Introducing students to and training them for careers in food, agricultural and environmental sciences is crucial to maintaining the strong and dependable food system that we all rely on today,” said Kelly Burns, executive director of the OFBF. “By investing in programs like the Green Growth Gateway, even more students will be able to discover and get excited about the plentiful opportunities that await them in the realm of agriculture.”

Officials said Buckeye Local was “pioneering a new standard in rural education innovation by merging physical infrastructure with curricular advancements to deepen students’ interest in agriculture and its extensive career options through the Green Growth Gateway program.” The goal is to establish foundational pathways in agriculture, home economics and general science with the greenhouse as its focal point. The project allows students to grow fresh produce on-site and enhance the science and math curriculum by enabling hands-on experiments and data collection, while BLHS ag instructor Cameron Best will oversee the project.

“The project’s centerpiece is a greenhouse designed by students, estimated to cost $15,000 to $20,000, featuring modern elements such as exhaust fans, motorized inlet shutters and advanced heating and cooling controls,” Best said. “It will be designed, in partnership with local partners and businesses to support a wide range of educational activities and accommodate year-round learning for various class sizes.”

He learned of the grant after attending a conference this fall and the district worked with VAZA Consulting to apply for funding.

“I attended an in-person presentation conference in early October at the Farm Bureau Office in Columbus. This allowed for a board of professionals of all backgrounds to provide key insight towards our final submission of the grant (later that month),” he explained.

The greenhouse should be ready within the year and will benefit between 50 to 100 students annually. Best noted his excitement about the windfall and was extremely grateful for the Farm Bureau’s support of the school’s Ag program.

“The project will open many doors in terms of hands-on learning for the students of Buckeye Local.”

Dustin Pyles, CEO of VAZA Consulting, said the windfall will provide ample opportunity for growth within the agricultural education program.

“This is an exciting opportunity to transform and expand student-driven, hands-on agricultural education at Buckeye Local middle and high schools. With essential start-up funding from the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, this project will ignite a lasting and sustainable interest in science and agriculture, anchored by a student-designed greenhouse,” Pyles commented. “Developed in partnership with the local community and businesses, the aim is to deepen and broaden student involvement in agriculture, enhancing their interest in related academic and career paths.”

Trevor Kirkpatrick, OFBF organization director for Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas counties, sees the funding as a major step in promoting agricultural awareness among the youth.

“The Jefferson County Farm Bureau is proud to support programs like Buckeye Local FFA and its ag program. When Cameron reached out to us about supporting this grant, we did not hesitate. Jefferson County Farm Bureau is very passionate about the youth of agriculture. The board of trustees works very hard to provide many programs that promote agriculture and allow young members of our community to learn more about agriculture. Kelly Burns, OFBF executive director, contacted me after the committee read the grant application and said they were blown away by the application and were very excited to award the $25,000,” Kirkpatrick added. “Jefferson County Farm Bureau and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation are committed to inspire and educate the next generation of farmers, ensuring the progress and prosperity of Ohio’s agriculture far into the future. This is the perfect start to a great pathway in the Buckeye Local School District. We hope that Jefferson County Farm Bureau can continue to be included in assisting with the growth of the programs offered at Buckeye Local.”

As of now, the program includes 21 students who are learning about agriculture, food and natural resources, animal projects, the science and technology of food and ag business. Another plan in the works is a hybrid corn plot that students will create on less than an acre of land on the high school campus, then manage while also recording data that will be shared with local farmers to aid their operations. Students have also attended field trips and had guest speakers such as OSU Extension Office representatives while an FFA chapter has also been started. Best hopes to have organization members compete in contests and attend state and national conferences in the near future.

BLHS Principal Luke Parsons said Best has done dynamic work in bringing the Ag program to fruition.

“Best has started off with a good sprint. He wants to try to grow the program and has a real passion for teaching,” said Parsons. “He’s going to turn this into a huge success and we’re excited to see what he’s going to do in the future.”

District Superintendent Coy Sudvary was also thankful for the foundation’s support in expanding the program even further.

“Buckeye Local Schools are very appreciative of the grant support from the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation that will provide agricultural opportunities to the students of Buckeye Local Schools for many years to come,” said Sudvary. “We are currently in year one of building our agricultural education program at Buckeye Local, and this grant will support the sustainability of our program moving forward. We appreciate the support of the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation and the Jefferson County Farm Bureau as we continue to build our program at Buckeye Local.”