Road to Understanding: Students at Provo High fear farm way of life may disappear


8 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PROVO — There aren't many kids these days who are willing to get their hands dirty. But for the 18 students in Provo's Future Farmers of America (FFA) club, dirt under your nails is a badge of honor.

"My dad's always had a garden during the summer, and so for me it's always been a regular thing,” said Janette Whitworth, an FFA club member.

Whitworth said there's something magical about the plants she works with. "It just keeps growing, and grows into this amazing thing," she said.

But when Whitworth got the news earlier this year when the Provo City School District's agricultural classes would not be continued at the new high school, she was devastated.

"My first reaction: I just cried," she said.

Ryan Rasmussen is the school's only agriculture teacher, overseeing six classes with 166 students this semester. He's also the FFA club advisor.

"There is a classroom part — and that's where the kids learn about it, so they'll take an ag-science class," he explained.

Rasmussen is retiring and won't be at the new school, but he says these classes shouldn't end with his career.

"It just gives them the opportunity and leadership, career development," he said.

Construction on the new high school at 1300 N. Lakeshore Drive in Provo is well underway. But the building is visibly missing a greenhouse — something that was originally in the plans, until the school district decided it wasn't needed.

"It wasn't cost-effective or space-effective to have a greenhouse," said Caleb Price, spokesman for the Provo City School District.

Price said dwindling interest in agriculture classes is why the district is dropping them altogether.

"The interest is in other places ... (with) the teachers that are coming out not (being) ready to teach these classes," Price said.

Classes and future FFA club members will need to attend at neighboring schools in Orem — something Whitworth said would be too difficult.

"It just seems unreasonable," she said.

The new Provo High School is slated to open in the fall of 2018. Price said the school district is looking at ways to incorporate agriculture and food-science concepts in other classes.

Contributing: Xoel Cardenas

Photos

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

UtahEducation
Ashley Moser

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast