Cassville Ag to Establish Wild C Research Farm
Launch the media gallery 1 playerCassville R-IV School district purchased over 60 acres of farmland located on thirteenth street in Cassville in October of 1998. The district had plans to utilize the space for a building project, however, in an effort to keep all district buildings centralized on or near Main Street, the building project did not come to fruition. Beginning this summer, the land will be home to the district’s new agricultural research farm, Wild C Research Farm.
Wild C will be a student based agricultural research farm that will provide hands-on-learning experiences for Cassville High School (CHS) ag students. Students will gain first-hand knowledge in raising livestock type animals, such as beef cattle. In addition to hands-on experience with live animals, students will learn farm management skills, including budgeting, fence repair, hay production, forage testing, ultrasound procedures and vaccinations.
“The ag department has a tremendous opportunity for our students to build this farm from the ground up,” said CHS agricultural teacher Mr. Jordan Ellis. “Barry County is the number two beef producing county in the state of Missouri, which is why we will focus on beef production.”
In the beginning stages of building the farm, students will have stock/feeder calves with the hope of eventually having cow/calf production.
“The agriculture industry is constantly changing and evolving,” said Ellis. “This farm will allow Mr. Hinson and I the opportunity to teach our students the most current industry standards and update our instruction as industry trends evolve and adjust.”
Agriculture courses at both the high school and middle school are taught by Ellis and Mr. Jimmy Hinson. All students who enroll in any ag course at CHS will have the opportunity to complete lab work at Wild C.
“Agriculture is the biggest contributor to the economy in Barry County. The Board of Education and administration are excited about the potential for providing hands-on farm related learning opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Merlyn Johnson. “Our Vo-Ag teachers have worked hard to develop a 5 year implementation plan and timeline for this worthwhile project. I look forward to watching these plans materialize over the next few school years as we strive to encourage our students to learn more about how to be good stewards of the land and to make a living as a farmer.”
Ellis and Hinson plan to grow lab opportunities for CHS students as the farm becomes more established. The ag department’s long-term goal is to offer a two hour farm management class where students will have the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time at the farm managing the details involved for sustaining the farm.