82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 29, 1995 Milton Hershey School Stresses Ag Involvement For All LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.) Open the door to the Milton Her shey School agriculture depart ment and the screech of a cockatiel splits the air. Muffled sounds of silkies, rabbits, mice, gerbils, and ferrets ruffling in their nests can be heard in between the cockatiel’s screeches and student pleas of “Mrs. Paterson, look at this.” The students—some intent and some with noses wrinkled in dis gust at the pungent smell of for maldehyde are dissecting pigs during an agriculture biology class. It’s Marcia Paterson’s first year on the job as coordinator for agri culture and environmental educa tion at the school. And, it’s the first year for implementing the FFA program. The school officially received charter membership in February. But, it isn’t the first time that Paterson has started an FFA prog ram from the beginning. Her enthusiasm for the FFA program is one honed during her years of growing up in Chicago and longing to be involved in agriculture. “I always wanted to work with plants and animals, but there were no outlets to do that in the city school while I was growing up,” Paterson said. Determination landed some part-time jobs for her. She helped a veterinarian, and during the sum mer months, traveled overseas to work in citrus groves and dairy farms in Israel. Paterson then earned a degree in animal science and horticulture at the University of Illinois and later a master’s degree in agricultural education. It wasn’t until her college years that Paterson first heard about the FFA program. Estactic to hear how FFA was enabling students to take an active role in agriculture, Paterson returned to Chicago where she helped other teachers implement the Chicago High School for Agri cultural Students. She watched many of her students go on to agriculture-related careers and one of them become the current nation al FFA president. During her 10 years at the Chi cago school, Paterson’s enthu- ature golf project a success. Marcia Paterson Coordinates A siasm for teaching agriculture has never dwindled. Now, she brings a vibrancy and contagious enthu siasm for the FFA program to the Milton Hershey School. “FFA helps focus on what stu dents are interested in and their strengths,” she said. She is thrilled that part of the legacy that Milton Hershey passed on to the school is the deed of trust that states that every student should have appreciation and be involved in agriculture and gardening. About 300 students are enrolled in 4-H and 100 students are char tered FFA members. “The school’s goal is that every student even non-FFA students should have the opportunity to be involved in at least two agricultural-based projects each year,” Paterson said. “FFA stu dents are involved in many more.” The school not only verbally supports the agricultural program but also provides abundant resour ces to carry out projects and are creative in their approach. Some of the student’s homes are designated as FFA homes. In these, the house parents help stu dents work on agriculture projects during off-school hours, such as restoring a pond on the grounds. Also, Paterson coordinates agri cultural projects with other teach ers. One of the big FFA projects now underway is making a minia ture golf course inside one of the bams on the grounds. The bam was completely gutted. Students designed the course and built it to scale before tackling the real project They built and painted the platform holes, and are now instilling them. The old win dows in the bam were removed and reglazed by students before re installation. Some of the students designed score cards through the communications course. Others chose the golf clubs, picnic tables, or helped with pouring concrete. Instead of numbers for the diffe rent holes, names have been assigned. Students chose a road way theme and have named the holes with such discriptive names as dead end, U-tum, detour, cattle crossing, and narrow bridge. “The project involves team planning and is only possible because every one works (Turn to Page B 3) •n to teaching son, center, coordinates projects among other teachers and the 1,200 students so that every student has the opportunity to be involved in at least two agriculture-based projects throughout the year. Marcia Paterson, right, watches as students built and paint the hole platforms for the miniature golf course. rfOMESTEA r'flL A project, turning this. ito an jre golf course. The barn on the school’s grounds was used as a dairy until K was phased out about five years ago. Program And FFA ;sei isses,