Hereford High to Revitalize Agriculture Program

will be updating its Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education program to encourage students to learn the importance of the farming industry. 

"It's critical that the school offers a varied educational program," said Jean-Paul Bibaud, chairman of Hereford's science department. "And there's definitely been a movement in the agricultural industry."

The agricultural education program has existed in some capacity since the school first opened in 1909, said . It started as a community program and eventually developed into a technology magnet program for students interested in the field. 

However, as Hereford transformed from a rural area to a more suburban one, the program suffered. 

"We used to have animals running around in the field," Last said. "We want to really revamp the program."

Specifically, for the next school year, Bibaud hopes to have students raise goats and chickens and take them to the market, learn organic farming and grow a hydroponics garden. 

"We want to pursue a more hands-on approach," Bibaud said. "Instead of just reading books, we want the students to actually get an idea of what it'd be like to work on a farm."

The curriculum already includes landscaping, biotechnology, plant and science classes. 

Bibaud said the program currently has 180 students at any given time, but hopes to increase that number to more than 300 over the next three years. As of now, there is one full-time position split between two teachers, but he hopes to have two full-time positions available in the future.

"There's already been an uptick [in enrollment] for next year," he said. 

Hereford's agricultural education program is also the only one of its kind in the , so students districted to other high schools can request a transfer to the Parkton school to enroll in the curriculum. 

It's also a good option for students who aren't considering furthering their education at a college, Bibaud added. 

"It gives kids real work experience," he said. "They can get jobs right out of school with what they learn in the [agriculture] program."

And students who do continue on to college can still benefit.

"They can take the skills they learn here and apply them elsewhere," Bibaud said.