Warren County FFA Students Pitch “Land Labs” to Bring Hands-On Agriculture to Every Secondary School

At a Sept. 17 work session, Warren County School Board members heard a spirited, student-led push to expand “land lab” programs across the division—adding live-animal care, crop plots, and on-campus learning spaces at the middle and high schools.

FFA Students make a presentation to the Warren County School Board.

Acting as emcee, division staff introduced the Warren County Middle School FFA, which opened with a string of wins and a big ask. “Our chapter earned the National FFA Chapter Three Star Gold Rating Award, the highest rating a chapter can achieve,” said eighth-grader Bella Kaplan, the chapter’s Sentinel. “Inside the classroom, agriculture has come alive for us. We grow a vegetable garden as part of our land lab, hatch baby chicks, and now care for three classroom rabbits.”

Ag teacher Lynn Phillips said students themselves wrote the 26-page national chapter application after months of planning and community projects. “After advancing from the state level with gold, WCMS FFA was awarded the three-star rating from National FFA this summer, placing us among the top FFA chapters in the nation,” she said. “This is the first time in Warren County history that any FFA chapter has received this honor.”

The middle school crew also detailed service and fundraising—apple gleaning for food banks, supply drives for flood victims, leadership conferences, and an upcoming Vera Bradley Bingo on Oct. 10 at Skyline High. “We are learning, serving, and leading in ways that prepare us for the future,” said eighth-grader Allice Englert.

Then came the pitch: expand the middle school land lab to include animals. “With your approval, we would like to begin raising laying hens, goats, and rabbits at our school,” Kaplan said, noting a $3,000 Rockingham Cooperative grant already in hand for a mobile chicken coop. Seventh-grader Dakota Sajeski said the team has plans for composting, predator-proof fencing, and vetted volunteers. “Other schools in Virginia already have land labs with animals and greenhouses… We believe Warren County students deserve the same chance.”

Skyline High School followed with a broader proposal that could start on its campus and scale countywide. “One way for us to foster that growth is to have what is called a land lab,” said a Skyline FFA officer (Drew Meyer), describing “set acreage… for the purpose of hands-on learning,” including small farm plots, soil pits, and crop fields. “Land labs exist to increase and further encourage hands-on learning opportunities for students and therefore increase student engagement… all while meeting the state competencies for our agriculture courses.”

Students tied the idea to real pathways. “Participating in these competitions and events has given me the opportunity to attend the state convention… I would love to attend college and earn a degree in livestock management,” one student said. Skyline FFA president Bobby Ford added: “This land lab would allow other kids who do not yet know of this passion to uncover it and run with it, all while getting hands-on experience and gaining a sense of responsibility.”

Skyline’s plant-systems pathway already leans on its greenhouse for mums and poinsettias, but the animal-systems side lacks facilities. “A land lab at SHS would allow students to continue to grow,” a teacher said, citing work-based learning, supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), and stronger ties to the Warren County Fair. Community donors are “ready to contribute in a pretty significant way,” the team said.

Location and logistics were front and center. Skyline identified a wooded clearing near its greenhouse and flagged two hurdles: bringing water across the lot and the tight timeline to pursue a Warren County Education Endowment grant that “closes tomorrow.” Warren County High School is more landlocked; teacher Lee Meadows outlined a smaller plan—greenhouse and poultry—using a 40-by-200-foot slice along a fenced practice area, while partnering with Skyline for large-animal projects. “To have goats, sheep, cattle… we would need to partner with Skyline High School,” she said. “We do have a real opportunity by having a land lab and building the programs so that students have those opportunities.”

Board members also heard about a possible off-campus option. “Our board had received a very generous offer in January of a hundred-acre farm to be used by the FFA for exactly this purpose,” one member said. Staff said initial talks this spring indicated that property—South River Farm—is also developing public access uses, and more work is needed to map out a joint model. “We can certainly… follow up,” the staff said.

Administrators framed the academic payoffs. The land labs “offer an immersive hands-on environment,” one said, tying the plan to the VDOE’s 5 Cs—critical thinking, collaboration, communication, citizenship, and creativity—industry certifications, CTE completer pathways, and a potential new Livestock Production Management course for upperclassmen. “Being able to offer things like a series of courses… and having access to animals and small animals… is potentially another aspect of… work-based learning.”

There are rules to respect. Staff noted town vs. county zoning differences: WCMS (in town) can keep a limited number of hens with inspection; Skyline (in county, ag-zoned) can host larger animals. On maintenance, the schools promised to shoulder daily care and repairs. “When you’re a farmer, you don’t work a nine-to-five job,” a division leader said.

Board members voiced support. “I think it was a really impressive proposal… The FFA program does so much for the students,” one member said. “I’m in favor.” The chair confirmed the ask: “Your endorsement to move forward—pursuing grants, partnerships—and bring items back as they’re ready.” The answer was yes.

“Thank you for supporting us and believing in the importance of agriculture education,” Englert told the board. “With your encouragement, we know the best is yet to come.”

Video courtesy of Warren County Public Schools.