Ground broken on new Ag Learning Center at Halls High School

The groundbreaking for an Agriculture Learning Center on the Halls High School campus recently had local and state officials happy to sling a little dirt. Initiated by agricultural instructors at HHS, the final step in contract approval took place in the April meeting of the Lauderdale County Commission. With the contract, the county earned $150,000 to use in the project that could begin construction in early May. From left, Halls Mayor Trent McManus, HHS Principal Andy Pugh, Tennessee State Commissioner of Agriculture Ken Givens, State Representative Craig Fitzhugh, Lauderdale County Superintendent of Schools Phillip Jackson and Lauderdale County Mayor Rod Schuh.

Affectionately called 'the barn,' by HHS faculty and students, the building will be located on the west site of the HHS campus on Hwy. 88. The property was purchased by the Board of Education a few years ago with hopes of a campus expansion.

This expansion to the HHS campus will not only aid students with hands-on experience in agriculture-based classes, but provide a state-of-the-art facility to be used countywide.

"We are very excited about this facility because so many will benefit from it," said HHS agricultural instructor Windy Willette. "The Department of Agriculture has had incentive programs for individuals for several years, but nothing for the schools where the future of agriculture really is. (Fellow HHS Ag instructor) Mrs. (Missy) Hammond and I began talking to the commissioner of agriculture about a year ago concerning what they could do for the schools to promote agricultural learning."

Officials involved in the planning agreed that a new facility to offer a more hands-on approach to teaching agriculture was the answer, but such an investment would have to be a benefit to the community as a whole.

Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Ken Givens included a proposal to build an Agricultural Learning Center in each Grand Division of the state in this year's budget and officials in Lauderdale County were ready with a proposal showing how the building could be used by both area high schools and the community as a whole.

Depending on weather conditions, construction on the new Ag Learning Center could begin as early as May.