Sterling High School

SHS FFA will have an opportunity to work a plot of land in close proximity during the 2024-25 school year due to the generosity of several donors. Our alumni & supporters group had been on the hunt for a while for a plot closer to the school. We’ve had one in Rock Falls for a few years, but our original goal for the plot was to provide hands-on learning for our students, so the Rock Falls plot isn’t accessible in that regard. It has worked great as a means to raise funds to support our FFA students, but aside from that we (our students) haven’t had any input or involvement in the plot. At our April Alumni & Supporters meeting one of our active members, Rich Witmer, mentioned that this new plot was for sale and that he was going to reach out to the landowner to see if they would be willing/interested in allowing us to cash rent it. Almost immediately, Ken Duncan was on board and eventually decided to donate the cost of cash rent instead of having to pay cash rent. We are elated that we finally have something close enough to the school that our students can easily be transported to during a class period and where they can learn about crop science literally in the field! We are hoping to conduct soil testing, observe growth, scout for weeds/pests, compare varieties, and more. As a testament to how much more our FFA members are able to be involved, before school ended Brady Shank (2024 SHS FFA President) worked with alumni member John Rahn to get seed donated for the plot and FFA member Joseph Shank planted it for us. We are so grateful for this partnership and to be able to continue our Chapter’s mission of educating our students and community members about Agriculture. It is my hope that with the addition of this plot and using it within our course curriculum that more students, who don’t come from a traditional Ag background, really begin to understand and SEE what it takes to grow the food, fiber and fuel that we interact with and use every single day.