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On Monday of this week, it was shared that Hamilton Schools were named as the recipient of a $97,000 Patterson Family Foundation Grant. The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation that strives to lift up rural communities through health care, education, economic opportunity and beyond. They are committed to finding ways to create opportunities, fuel potential, and keep the backbone of America thriving in rural communities.
“This grant will be used to purchase a new greenhouse, upgrade our outdoor classroom and to purchase start-up equipment and materials,” stated Principal Stephanie Nelson. These funds will be combined with the Frontier Farm Credit Grant the Ag Club received last year to help purchase a school greenhouse. “The learning opportunities that will soon be at our students' fingertips are EXCITING,” stated Nelson.
The greenhouse is the fi-nal step in the school’s ag facility project. Four years ago, the animal ag barn was added, with the chicken coop being added a year and a half ago.
With the addition of these facilities, Hamilton USD 390 students have had the opportunities to raise and sell their own products with beef and chicken eggs, as well as learn the skills needed to raise these animals to be healthy and productive. “Our goal five years ago was to provide our students with more hands-on life skills that are incorporated into our core and elective courses and to offer something that made Hamilton stand out amongst the larger schools in our area,” stated Principal Nelson.
With the addition of the ag barn, chicken coop and now greenhouse, Hamilton USD 390 now offers a fulltime agriculture and industrial arts program. Hamilton will also hopefully be approved for a FFA chapter come February.
(Courtesy photo)
