Ashland FFA students
take memorable five-day trip
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
Ashland High School FFA members recently took a five-day “extended” field trip they affectionately named “The Big E and Beyond.” Thanks to a recent grant from Maine Ag in the Classroom and the continued long-term support of the Maine Potato Board, Ashland FFA students were able to get a first-hand look at some of the many agricultural career opportunities available in Maine, New England and the world in general.
The field trip was intended to expose high school students to careers in agriculture “that are not the typical jobs one thinks of automatically when you mention a career in agriculture” said student FFA advisers and Ashland District School teachers Jan Perry and Shari Ward, who brainstormed, organized and chaperoned the trip. Most think of farming with the mention of FFA or a career in agriculture, when in fact, the field of agriculture is actually quite vast, ranging from actual farming, to biological and scientific areas.
The students began their adventure in the early morning hours of Sept. 16 with the “Big E” fair in Massachusetts as their destination. The first stop was at the University of Maine at Orono campus and nearby Old Town. The students toured the U-Maine Chemical and Biological Engineering Department where they met with professors and students doing research to turn wood chips into cellulosic biofuels. It was with well thought purpose of the student advisers to show their students how the forest trees their families and neighbors harvest in Ashland are interconnected with science elsewhere in the world. Several professors spent time with the students showing them how the university is on “the cutting edge” of research in their attempt to develop the process of using trees to make biodiesel fuel, instead of using things such as corn or other agricultural products which could be used as a food source for humans or animals.
The students were also allowed to tour the science labs and to view the “mini production” line where university students run tests and experiments. After the tour at UMO, the students then traveled “down the road to the real mill,” Old Town Fuel and Fiber Biofuel Mill. The students were exposed to the entire mill complex and were able to experience biofuel production on a commercial and industrial scale. Touring the mill, the students learned how the biofuel process is designed to work, as well as the subtle exposure to another side to agriculture. The goal of Old Town Fuel and Fiber Biofuel Mill is to allow the use of raw material and wood chips produced in Maine (from renewable forest resources) to manufacture a high quality biofuel which can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
The second day of their travels brought them to a half-day tour of the Idexx Corp. located in South Portland. Idexx Corp. is an agricultural biotechnology and pharmaceutical company producing animal health care products.
“It is the second largest employer in Maine, second only to the state itself, has global reach and fits in perfectly with what we were hoping to teach our students about the connections between agricultural science and business,” said Perry.
The students toured the entire Idexx animal health care business from research and development, to product testing, and the commercial production of several different product lines including marketing. The students were able to run actual sample tests and analyze the results in the laboratories. Idexx kindly shared many of their employees including the skilled production workers to the PhDs. Each stop on the tour was carefully planned for the students’ level of understanding.
“They took such good care of us. We weren’t expecting the all out attention given to us,” said Ward.
Student enthusiasm was great and as intended, the students were exposed to a variety of careers in agriculture.
They arrived to their “Big E” destination on Friday evening. Early Saturday morning, teams of Ashland students competed in various FFA contests including dairy judging where the students evaluated dairy animals of all ages for conformation and ability to make milk. They also participated in Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). Students tested soil and water samples and answered questions on a wide variety of environmental topics. Floriculture found them having to identify many flowers and plant specimens, as well as making floral arrangements and corsages. After spending the afternoon exploring the fairground exhibits such as the livestock and dairy barns, the horse show at the Coliseum, and the New England States Building, the students attended the much anticipated FFA awards banquet. The students met with over 700 FFA members from the many East Coast and Midwest states.
Departing for home on Sunday morning, the group stopped in Kennebunkport where they learned how this coastal region of Maine agriculture specializes in aquaculture and agri-tourism activities. Taking a boat tour in the nearby ocean waters, a lobster trap was hauled aboard via rope and pulley, and the students got a hands-on lesson in lobster anatomy and learned the importance of the lobster industry.
An added highlight on the boat trip was seeing the oceanside view of former President George H.W. Bush’s family home on Walker’s Point, motoring past his speedboat and spying the Secret Service boats moored in the harbor. Another stop and agri lesson on this fun-filled day was to Cabela Outfitters, one of the country’s largest outfitter companies where the students saw how these outdoor recreation products, including camping, hunting, and fishing gear are marketed to the public.
Their final stop was at Pineland Farm in New Gloucester. The farm is a 5,000-acre, agricultural complex featuring all aspects of agriculture including a spectacular public garden where they students enjoyed an early morning walk. The rest of the morning was spent at the dairy complex where the students made cheese, starting with pasteurized (not homogenized) milk produced right on the farm. The students completed the process of heating the milk, adding the proper cultures, stirring, straining, cutting and flavoring until the end result produced some delicious cheese.
“This was a hands-on experience to learn about the curds and whey of making an agricultural product from start to finish,” declared Perry.
During the cheese making process, students had time to tour the various dairy barns which house animals of all ages from calves to mature milking cows. Students were allowed to hand milk the cows, which of course, produced a lot of laughs and fun for all.
At the Creamery Building, the students observed the farm’s commercial cheese operation using 1,000-gallon steel tanks. A great contrast between their cheese making process and one of this commercial scale. The students sampled their own cheese and were also given a wide variety of delicious samples the farm makes which are available for purchase in many Maine stores.
“Our trip was designed to show the diversity of agricultural businesses located right here in Maine. From biotechnology, including biofuels, to animal health care and pharmaceutical products, lobster and cheese, all of these products are Maine made,” said Perry. Each stop on their tour was unique. “The tour guides and employees all went way above our expectations to help our students learn about agricultural careers and how important agriculture is in Maine,” she added. The students and teacher advisers wish to extend their appreciation to Maine Ag in the Classroom and the Maine Potato Board for helping to make their trip a reality.
Photos courtesy of Shari Ward and Jan Perry
ASHLAND FFA STUDENTS get geared up with the proper safety equipment for a tour at the Old Town Fuel and Fiber biofuel mill.
COMPLETING THE FINAL STAGES of the cheese making process at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester are, from left: Ashland FFA students Amos Ward, Royce MacDonald, Kayla Cote and Shea Craig.
LEARNING ABOUT THE LOBSTER INDUSTRY in the bay at Kennebunk are, from left, Ashland FFA students Emily Reese, Kayla Cote, Shea Craig, Royce MacDonald, and Whitney Donovan (holding the lobster).
There will be a Christmas Craft Fair and Bake Sale Saturday, Nov. 6 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Advent Christian Church on Exchange Street in Ashland. A soup luncheon will be served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Be sure to stop in for your favorite goodies and crafts.
A concert “never heard of in Aroostook County” is scheduled to take place Sunday, Nov. 14 starting at 2 p.m. at the Ashland District School Auditorium. Sponsored by the Ashland Alumni Association, the concert features “solos, special guests and beautiful musical accompaniment.” Admission is free and all are invited to attend this special day. Come hear the voices and harmony of the Ashland area!
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-8232 or feenhop@aol.com.
