ANSON COUNTY — “We have a privilege of accepting a $300,000 agriculture Anson Project Grant from Golden Leaf, thanks to Ms. Caraway, she actually started the grant,” announced Dioynna Pratt at the February Anson County Board of Education meeting.
“We met with Golden Leaf’s Ms. Susan Kale and she talked with us and helped us. We decided that it would be best for it to go through Anson High School, so once we made that decision, we did some tweets and we were awarded the grant,” explained Pratt.
The grant will be used to expand and enhance the agricultural program at Anson High School through improving the school’s current greenhouse by putting in new benches, dehumidifiers, industrial fans and rebuilding the Aquaponics and the Hydroponics. Pratt said some of the money would also go towards purchasing more animals, potentially even computerized animals.
“This will give students an opportunity to work on the animals and if they make a mistake they’re not hurting real animals. The grant will help all three Pathways of Agriculture. You got horticulture, natural resources, and animal science,” said Dr. Pratt.
She also announced that due to the grant, the school can now hire a CTE Adent.
“The grant also gives opportunities for more field experiences through field trips, hands-on experiences and opportunities to collaborate face- to- face with employees to expand curriculum by providing a variety of classes for more students to promote student leadership and entrepreneurship, strengthening partnerships with local agriculture businesses, non-profit organizations and universities to create internships, apprenticeships and mentorships for students,” said Pratt.
The goal of the grant is to increase the number of students earning certifications and credentials. Pratt says the district’s goal is to have more “Completers” or students who graduate as “Concentrators.”
Pratt explained “Concentrators are students who have finished a class in a pathway, or students who have at least two classes in that one pathway and then they are concentrators. Once they graduate, they’re completers.”
With knowledge in agriculture, Pratt says students can pursue careers as plant scientists, work at the health department, veterinarians, service technicians for John Deere, or even a CTE teacher at Anson High School.
Pratt closed by thanking many of the district’s business partners: The Caraway Foundation, Anson County North Carolina Corporation Quality Equipment and the George Washington Carver Food Research Institute.
“We are also asking for new partners so if you know anybody or you’re interested please let us know,” she said.
