FAIRVIEW, Ala. – Fairview Elementary will be adding an agriscience program for its kindergarten through fifth-grade students as a weekly specialty class for all to attend.
Elementary Agriscience Teacher Savanna Dutton said this means all students will learn about the depths of agriculture.
“I think the kids will be able to see that agriculture isn’t just animals and planting crops, but it is part of our everyday life,” Dutton said. “My goal is to educate them on the ways of agriculture and to introduce them to local farms and farmers. I also want this program to be a stepping stone for them to continue in ag through their school career. We have many exciting things planned for this program. I am thankful for all of the support we have already received and continue to receive from our community.”
Dutton said she visited Fairview High School teacher Whitney Haynes last year and asked her why they didn’t offer something like this to elementary students.
“We got to talking and researching and it all grew from there,” she said. “We are both from farm families and we want our children to have all the agricultural knowledge available. I want to thank Whitney Haynes for being so supportive and ready to jump in with both feet for my idea.”
Haynes said Dutton has aligned the elementary ag curriculum to state science standards, giving students yet another opportunity to receive training with critical thinking and problem solving skills.
“As a parent, I’m excited for my children to get to experience this program allowing them to be outside and get their hands dirty when the lessons permit,” Haynes said. “This gets them away from a screen, and of course, broadens their knowledge of agriculture and its related careers and pathways.”
Haynes said, as a farmer, she’s excited for the students to learn about our food system as a whole.
”We are excited for them to see how farmers and those in the agriculture industry work to keep our food safe, and how almost everything we touch and eat is affected by agriculture,” she said. “I hope this sparks some interest for our students that might one day choose an ag-related career. One in four jobs in Alabama is agriculture related, so we really can help prepare our young students for their future. Responsibility, management and organization are essential in farming and agriculture. These soft skills can be beneficial to our students regardless of their career path.”
Dutton said that no grants were required for them to get the elementary ag program started.
“Thanks to (Cullman County Schools Superintendent )Dr. (Shane) Barnette, we are getting to pilot the program for a year, and then after that we may look into grants to help keep the program going,” Dutton said. “My hope is that our program is such a success that other schools in Cullman County will also want to adopt this program for themselves. I also want to thank Dr. Barnette for letting us start this program at Fairview. What better place to start elementary ag than with the Aggies! I also want to thank Ms. Lori Gibson, Tanner Elementary’s ag teacher, for being such a great inspiration for us starting this program.”
Barnette said he is very excited to support the pilot program at Fairview Elementary.
“While agriculture is important to all of Cullman County, it has been especially important to the Fairview community for generations,” Barnette said. “Our plan is to introduce and foster these traditions beginning in the elementary grades and then expanding them through our newly renovated programs in the high school. This could be something very special.”
This program at Fairview Elementary will be a special class that all students kindergarten through fifth grade will attend weekly.
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