Region Two explores agribusiness class

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
MEETING OF THE MINDS — Officials from the Region Two School of Applied Technology met March 1 to discuss the option of adding an agribusiness program to the school. Taking part in the discussion are, from left, Meg Scott, Dick York, Dawn Matthews, Mike Howard and Otis Smith.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — This fall, area high school students will have an opportunity to learn about the business side of agriculture courtesy of the Region Two School of Applied Technology.
    According to Mike Howard, director of Region Two, talks of adding an agribusiness program to Region Two would bring another dimension to what the school has to offer students. Howard met with several local farmers and representatives from the University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension during a March 1 meeting at the school.
    “My vision is to give kids more avenues in the agricultural world,” Howard said. “I want us to be more diverse.”
    A greenhouse would likely be erected between Houlton High School and the Region Two school, located on Bird Street. Grant funds could be used to build the greenhouse, resulting in no impact to the school’s bottom line budget, Howard said. Heat for the greenhouse could easily be supplied from the high school’s wood chip boiler through underground radiant heat, which would allow a year-round growing cycle, he said.
    Region Two already offers a wealth of classes targeting specific professions, including Health Science; Auto Body Repair and Collision; Automotive Technology; Culinary Arts; Early Childhood Occupations; Forest Management; Welding/Metal Fabrication; and the recently added Law Enforcement course.
    An agribusiness/agricultural business operation is defined by the Department of Education as “a program that prepares individuals to manage agricultural businesses and agriculturally-related operations within diversified corporations. Includes instruction in agriculture, agricultural specialization, business management, accounting, finance, marketing, planning, human resource management and other managerial responsibilities.”
    Howard and SAD 29 Superintendent Mike Hammer visited the SAD 1 agricultural farm in Presque Isle on two occasions to get a better feel for how Presque Isle area students progressed in their program.
    “They generate money,” said Andrew Plant of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “The problem that a lot of area farmers have with them is they see it as a competing enterprise. From the student perspective, it’s more of a labor force than educational endeavor.”
    Howard said he did not see the Region Two program following similar lines. Howard said he envisioned the Region Two course to be run a bit differently than the one in SAD 1, with a greater emphasis placed on the hands-on, technical aspect of growing fresh fruits and vegetables.
    “I see it more as students going out into the community for the experience,” Howard said. “Not necessarily going to be a worker for just one farmer. Something that actually gives the students an educational experience.”
    “I would like to see this become an educational center for my school district,” Hammer said. “To have something for kids in the lower grades to come up and experience is key. That is also the way to build this program.”
    There is also tremendous opportunity for crossover between classes as much of the products that could be grown in the agribusiness program — such as tomatoes and cucumbers — could be used by students in the culinary arts program. In addition, welding of farm equipment could also be factored into the curriculum.
    “We have to be able to show to the state, that the program has a minimum of 350 hours per year,” Howard said. “Our programs now do that.”
    Region Two must apply to the state Department of Education to approve the program. Twenty students need to show an interest in the program in order for it to be approved, Howard said. He hopes to have the program approved before the end of the current school year.
    For more information on the agribusiness program, contact Howard at 532-9541.