The ND FFA Foundation is committed to increasing agricultural literacy through meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. Through a partnership with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program provides funding for educators who create engaging experiences that help students explore the many sides of agriculture. At Center FFA, that support helped breathe new life into an underused greenhouse while giving students valuable experience in plant science.
Program: Center FFA Greenhouse Revitalization
Teacher: Rebecca Sanders, Center FFA Advisor
Impact: Approximately 150 students
Purpose: To provide students with hands-on experience in plant science while restoring the school’s greenhouse as a learning space.
Objectives:
- Introduce students to a variety of plant science and greenhouse practices.
- Teach students about hydroponics, propagation, and floral design.
- Give students opportunities to apply their skills through real-world projects.
- Reestablish the greenhouse as an active part of the agricultural education program.
Students played an active role in bringing the greenhouse back into use after it had sat unused for several years. Throughout the project, they planted flowers and vegetables, learned how to operate hydroponic grow towers, set up a grow chamber, and practiced propagating lilies by separating bulbs. As the greenhouse came back to life, so did opportunities for students to explore new areas of agriculture through hands-on learning.
In addition to growing plants, students developed floral design skills by creating bouquets and boutonnieres, giving them a chance to explore another side of the agriculture industry. They also traveled to Plant Perfect in Bismarck, where they selected flowers and plants for the school’s playground garden. The field trip allowed students to apply what they had learned in the greenhouse while making decisions about which plants would thrive in the space.
The project gave students practical experience with planting, plant care, hydroponic systems, water testing, propagation, and greenhouse management. Just as importantly, it helped restore an important learning space that will continue to serve agriculture students for years to come.
The plants grown through the project will also leave a lasting impact beyond the classroom. Flowers and other greenery selected by students will be planted in the school’s playground garden, creating a welcoming space for students, staff, and community members to enjoy.
Through the Ag in the Classroom Mini Grant Program, the ND FFA Foundation and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture continue to support projects that connect students with agriculture in meaningful ways. By providing opportunities to learn through experience, projects like this help students develop practical skills, explore agricultural careers, and discover new interests that will continue to grow well beyond the classroom.
