Plt-Uwostf Fanning, Saturday, Mavawfcw 17,1984
How to get a new
vo-ag program started
BY SALLY BAIR
Staff Correspondent
LITTLESTOWN In a time of
budget concerns and program
cutbacks, Littlestown High School
in Adams County has just begun its
first ever vocational agriculture
program. The program, voted into
existence by the School Board last
February, is starting with 45
students, who are eagerly awaiting
approval of their Future Farmers
of American chapter.
Prior to this year, the only op
portunity for a Littlestown student
to take vocational agriculture was
to attend Gettysburg or New
Oxford schools, not easy because
of the problems of changing
schools and working out tran
sportation.
Having three fanners serving on
the board of education is helpful in
establishing a vo-ag department,
but broad-based community
support is what really was the
deciding factor, though the
original vote was close.
Ron Harrison, one of the three
farmers, said, “I served on an
advisory committee with the
superintendent before going on the
board, and this is one of the con-
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At Littlestown High School
cepts discussed. We found a lot of
interest from other people who had
served on the committee. If we
were just doing it for farmers I
couldn’t vote for it, but there are
many people involved in
agriculture and more and more
people who are interested and who
need to become involved and
educated.”
Mark James, a native of New
Hampshire, who was hired as the
teacher to coordinate and im
plement the new program adds,
“The community has been very
receptive, and parental support
has been super. There is a strong
need for agriculture ingrained in
the community. A lot of the
students are involved in summer
jobs on farms. It’s an important
part of the community.”
While very tew of the 45 students
in grades 9-12 are actually from
farms, James says that Lit
tlestown is a fairly rural com
munity, and adds, “Most students
have an appreciation for that way
of life and for agriculture.”
James says he has received a lot
of support and encouragement
from other vo-ag departments in
the county. Littlestown will be the
In 1984
BRUNING
seventh school offering the
program, and for James it is
natural that they should be of
fering it. “Littlestown has the best
rounded agriculture and the
highest concentration of
agriculture in the county.' ’
Littlestown once had a slogan on
signs greeting travelers as they
entered the community, which
read, “Littlestown - where
agriculture and industry meet.”
Harrison said these signs have
come down, but the local Lions
Club has had buttons made with
the slogan, and he says, “I proudly
wear mine.” It was this slogan, in
fact, which impressed him when he
was considering moving to the
area 13 years ago from Blair
County.
As to why some programs are
folding, while they are starting up
a new one, Harrison responds,
“It’s not that agriculture is dying,
but programs are changing. ’ ’
He cited cooperation from the
superintendent and the principal
as important reasons for the op
portunity to start the program, and
he adds, “Guidance counselors
(Turn to Page 019)
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