Students, Leaders Celebrate New Agriscience & Veterinary Center

Sign up for the Alpharetta-Milton Patch newsletter!

---

Milton, GA -- During a unique ceremony that featured real goats, chickens, rabbits and life-sized horse mannequins, a ribbon-cutting was held Friday for Fulton County Schools’ newest career and technical education facility, the Agriscience & Veterinary Education program at Cambridge High School.

While the weather was rainy, it could not drench the unbridled enthusiasm of the students, school and district leaders, city officials and community members who gathered to celebrate the facility’s official opening.

“This new program provides a unique opportunity for our students to learn about a highly relevant and engaging career path,” said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent of Fulton County Schools. “The veterinary/animal science program nicely complements our district’s diverse portfolio of more than 100 career and technical education options.”

The 7,000-square-foot facility includes classroom space, an animal science laboratory, a barn with stables, and demonstration areas. Also unique to the building is its architecture, which was specifically designed to blend in with the city of Milton’s pastoral community that includes many horse farms.

During the planning phase for the school, the Milton community was asked for input on the type of Career Technical Education program that would best support the area, and a veterinary/animal science program was recommended.

During the first year, students will take courses in basic agricultural science, and in subsequent years the program will expand to include animal science technology, biotechnology and other related Veterinary Science courses. Students completing the Veterinary Science career pathway will have the credentials needed to become certified as a veterinary assistant.

The facility not only will house classroom instruction, but also will have supervised agricultural experiences through hands-on care of animals, demonstrations, and competition through career development events. It is also home for the school’s newly formed student organization, FFA.

Formally known as Future Farmers of America, the modern National FFA organization brings together students, teachers and agribusinesses to support agricultural education.

Career and technical education is a growing area in Fulton County schools as well as the nation.

In locations throughout the district, Fulton County Schools offers nearly 30 career and technical education pathways: Accounting Services, Agriculture Systems, Allied Health, Architecture, Drawing and Design, Automotive Maintenance and Light Repairs, Audio Video Technology and Film, Business and Computer Science, Information Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Care and Education, take out Education, Engineering and Technology, Entrepreneurship, Family and Consumer Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Human Resource Management, Law Enforcement, Graphic Design, JROTC, Marketing Management, Marketing and Retail Management, Plant Science and Horticulture Programming, Sports and Entertainment, Teaching as a Profession, Web Page and Digital Design and Work-Based Learning.

Pathways within each program area vary by school. Veterinary/animal science is the newest program to be added.

---

Photo 1: School board member Katha Stuart (left) and Board President Linda McCain (right) talk with a Cambridge student about the farm animals studied in the program.
Photo 2: School and district leaders, city officials, and community members gather to celebrate the facility’s official opening with a ribbon-cutting.
Photo 3: the Agriscience & Veterinary Education Center at Cambridge High School.
Photo credits: Fulton County Schools