The story goes that back in 2017, then superintendent Paul Fregeau asked how to get students from DPS 61 out to Progress City near RCC to experience the Farm Progress Show. From there, the Decatur Public Schools Foundation and its local benefactors took things to the next step and arranged for every 6th grader to attend that year’s event. The thought was to expose those students to the scope and importance of the agricultural industry in their hometown. Naturally, our community leaders knew that an event such as Farm Progress would have tremendous impact on Decatur – especially from an economic point of view. The uptick in economic activity across the area was highly anticipated & greatly welcomed. However, who knew that what appeared to be “glorified field trip” would lead to the development of one the best programs DPS 61 could offer their students.
In 2018, the Dwayne O. Andreas Ag Academy was founded. Embedded in both MacArthur and Eisenhower high schools, the Ag Academy was designed to help students explore the broad range of careers within the industry of agriculture through a systematic program of instruction in agricultural education. According to their website, the program provides three major components:
· Classroom/laboratory instruction (contextual learning)
· Supervised agricultural experience programs (work-based learning)
· Student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization)
The Decatur area has corporate headquarters and major manufacturing facilities for four of the world’s largest agribusiness companies, so the career opportunities right here at home are endless. More importantly, students who participate in the Ag Academy soon find they can acquire transferable skills that will benefit any employer, in any field of industry.
Students are eligible to enroll in the program and begin taking classes as in-coming freshman. All they simply need to do is coordinate this choice with their guidance counselors. Each high school has their own dedicated staff members to the ag program and a broad range of course work related to the industry: agricultural science, business management, communication & leadership, mechanic, animal science, horticulture, small animal care and wildlife management. There is also course work that allows the students to focus on personal development and those “soft skills” that we adults hope our own children will embrace & make part of their personal DNA – time management & workplace skills, communication, social engagement & interpersonal skills and etiquette.
That leads into the FFA program which, in my opinion, is a vital component to the success of this program. Yes, FFA was originally short for Future Farmers of America, but it has clearly become so much more over the years. Naturally, there are career development paths offered to the student-members that cover areas from agronomy, sales, technology & mechanical systems, forestry, to livestock management & handling, environmental & natural resource management to food sciences. There are also leadership development pathways that focus on issues research, parliamentary procedure, running effective meetings, employment skills and public speaking (both extemporaneous & prepared). Not only do the students at MacArthur and Eisenhower get to participate in these types of programs, they are also encouraged to participate in FFA meetings & events at both the state and national levels… and I have seen firsthand how those experiences can impact the students.
In 2018, I was fortunate enough to be invited to an FFA forum being held at ADM to celebrate to launch of the Ag Academy here in DPS 61. The keynote speaker was the national FFA president at the time – a young woman from California named Breeana Holbert. We met in the boardroom on the 2nd floor of ADM just behind the trading floor and what I witnessed blew me away. This young woman, no more than a senior in high school, sat directly in the middle of a very long conference table and COMMANDED the room! For nearly 20 minutes, she fielded questions from community leaders and corporate executives. With each response, she turned to face the person who asked the question and without hesitation answered the query. She never stumbled over her words, never said “uhm”, nor did she ever appear to be searching for something to say. She was direct, concise and always stayed on point. Outside of seeing Zig Ziglar live & in-person, it was the most polished & professional presentation I have ever witnessed.
Four years later it’s 2022, and I can say that the future is clearly bright for not only the Ag Academy, but also the students who participate in it. We recently met with Zach Shields, the executive director of the DPS Foundation, to get an overview of where the program has come since its inception. Besides, the seed money to start the program from the Andreas family to get the program off the ground, the Buffet Foundation has provided the capital needed to build a dedicated facility on the south side of Decatur along US Highway 51 South. Once completed, the only Ag related education facility more impressive in Illinois may be the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences at the corner of 111th & Pulaski on the city’s south side. This will be in addition to the Living Science Farm on the grounds of American Dreamer STEM Academy. Needless to say, this program is taking on a life of its own. If you would like more details about the program itself, I encourage you to read the Herald & Review article from September of this year. It is truly amazing!
Beyond the “brick & mortar” & the “bells & whistles”, there is definitely something more at work here in this program. We here at DPS Chalkboard believe that the impact of this program for our students is almost immeasurable. When you look at the curriculum that is available to the students along with personal growth opportunities provided to them through FFA program, you couldn’t ask for much more for our students. In his work with urban schools, Harvard economist Roland Fryer firmly believes in giving the kids the “opportunity” to achieve and to have a meaningful life. At one point in his work, students at one of his high schools had achieved a 100% acceptance rate to college. Did everyone go? Absolutely not, but according to Fryer that was okay. In his mind, the success these students achieved in high school was the foundation they needed to succeed as adults, regardless of the path they chose to follow once they’ve left high school.
Mike and I honestly believe the Ag Academy is offering those same type benefits to our students here in District 61 – all 496 of them. The opportunities here are endless and can lead down multiple pathways. The Ag Academy is a great launching pad for continuing to college, through post graduate work and land a career in the food sciences (ADM’s global research facility used to be high school here in the district). It’s also a great catalyst for those who wish to pursue the skilled trades. Licensed electricians are critical to maintaining the integrity of the product stored in the elevators we drive by every day. If computers are your thing, you don’t need to look much further than to Shelbyville, IL to find a software company that manages information systems for over 20,000 users in agribusiness companies across North America.
Either way, if a student is willing to stick with it and do the hard work, there is no doubt that they will be able to flourish in their adult life at whatever they chose. In the end, isn’t that what we ultimately want for children?
Who knew? So proud to have been in on the ground floor of this idea and to have been able to watch it grow!