Ag Barns in Conroe ISD
Come on y'all, we live in Texas!
The Conroe ISD School Board recently approved moving a new bond into the election process based on the recommendation of the Bond Planning Committee, which included 150+ everyday residents who spent 6+ months debating and molding the bond to meet the needs of the District. Simply saying ‘THANK YOU’ to that committee isn’t enough, as they put a great deal of time and energy working on the details to create the most palatable proposals while meeting the desperate needs of a school district that is way behind on meeting growth.
You can find the full details on the bond here: Bond Planning Committee
Even though the complete bond package reaches close to $2 Billion, there was still around $1.6 Billion needed to meet other district needs. The Committee had to make many, many hard decisions on what to cut out so that the bond would have a better chance of passing come this November.
One of those things cut was related to replacing grass with turf on athletic fields, which failed to pass in the 2019 Bond, and arguably came close to derailing the rest of the bond. Turf became a rallying cry by opponents, saying it was an example of “wasteful spending” and should be reason to vote down the entire bond. We will ignore that turf has clear benefits for long term costs, supports players in numerous ways the public does not understand, and that every new school baseball or football field is built with turf.
I am now getting the impression that there may be a new rallying cry for “wasteful spending” in one of the bond proposals, which includes Ag Barns.
The Bond Committee’s Prop C includes the following items:
16 Elementary Gyms/PE Classrooms (for existing schools without gyms)
Ag Barns - Renovation/Expansion of existing two ag barns, and addition of one new ag barn to serve Conroe High, Caney Creek High, and the new High School to be built.
Prop C is a small sliver of the total bond package, yet there seems to be more discussion about it than I expected. At the July board meeting, trustees spent a considerable amount of time talking about these barns, which was somewhat alarming to me as a parent who has a kid that will likely be going into ag.
Even reading in some of the Facebook groups, there are people arguing that parents should figure out their own kid’s ag needs. One person called them “hobby barns”. I suppose we could sell our house in the suburbs, move out to Willis where land is somewhat affordable, and build a barn…so our kids can learn about animal science? Never thought I’d hear Texans argue about not having more ag resources.
From experience, I can tell you that kids may jump from interest to interest. Getting them experience into agriculture, in the State of Texas no less, should be a clear option that they can participate in for at least one school year, without having to uproot our family and building a ranch.
For those not familiar with Ag Barns, I’d like to clear these misconceptions as someone who was once that kid raising animals for the fair out in Houston County (Crockett, TX). Note that I do not work for the Conroe ISD school district, nor do I know the particular challenges related to ag barns CISD has today. I want to relay the why we need Ag Barns in general.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Many people lament how kids are constantly bombarded with the idea of going into STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and that they must go to college to pursue STEM careers. If we ignore that we live in 2023 where literally everything we do interacts with technology and engineering, the statements critics make are still very true:
“You don’t have to go to college!”
“We still need plumbers, electricians, and farmers!”
“You can still make good money working in the trades!”
These are all valid arguments, albeit as options for career paths and not against why STEM fields are a great choice for those looking for a wide range of career opportunities. Yet too many parents believe if their kid learns to code an app that they can become rich. That certainly can happen, but in reality we must find the things that kids enjoy doing so that they can have a chance at landing a career within their interests. Career and Technical Education programs are a method for doing this.
CTE Programs of Study - Website
The Division of College, Career, and Military Preparation has engaged members of the workforce, secondary education, and higher education to advise on the development of programs of study, including coherent sequences of courses, industry-based certifications, and work-based learning to ensure students are prepared for in-demand, high-skill, and high-wage careers in Texas.
If you haven’t seen these programs already, know that gone are the days when you could wait until college to decide what you want to do in life for your career. You still can wait until college, but you’ll be behind your peers for a time while you catch up. Both approaches work fine as many people (me included) take time to find their place in the world. But if your kid knows what their passion is, they can pursue it very early.
Here are the Texas CTE options for Agriculture (1 of 14 categories):
Texas has a really great set of programs related to agriculture, and much of it has foundations in science and engineering.
What better way to start your career in agriculture than taking one of these programs? And what key item is needed to experience real world agriculture in areas like cities and suburbs where you can’t drive down a dirt road to your family ranch?
How many young kids want to be a veterinarian when they grow up? How many love animals and want to work in places like the zoo or imagine themselves trekking through the jungle to help wildlife? Which kids would thrive working in the trades found throughout the agriculture sphere? Where do you think that passion is grown and cultivated?
4-H and FFA
I was in 4-H and FFA as a kid. My corduroy jacket was lost over the years, but I get hits of nostalgia every time I see the FFA nerds wearing them. If you are not aware of what 4-H and FFA are, they are national organizations focused on agriculture knowledge, student achievement, leadership, and much, much more. They include a wide range of areas related to agriculture, from animals to robotics, from young kids to graduating high schoolers and beyond. It’s quite amazing to see how much they have expanded since I was in the program!
Each city/county in Texas (and nationwide) generally has 4-H and FFA chapters, and it is comprised of student members who may do various things like show animals at the fair, participate in competitions, and go to conferences, to name a few things.
This article is the best explanation of how 4-H and FFA compare:
Difference Between 4-H and FFA:
What is 4-H?
4-H is one of the most prominent youth establishments in the United States. Each of the 4 "H's" stand for principles the members are taught; head, heart, hands, and health. This organization allows young people to experience and learn about various topics like animal care, farming, and healthy living skills. Kids experience 4‑H in every county in the nation through in-school and after-school programs, school and civic clubs, and 4‑H camps.
The 4-H organization was founded around 1902, so many families have deep roots within 4-H. Many children grow up looking forward to their time with 4-H. It is seen as a smart activity for rural children. They are allowed to do community service, learn new skills, and participate in healthy living challenges! All of the activities that 4-H prompts help children learn essential life skills.
What is FFA?
Another important youth organization within the agriculture community is FFA. Future Farmers of America (FFA) comprises three parts: classroom, career-based contests, and jobs. First, students learn about the large part of the agriculture industry. The group focuses on civic/personal responsibility, work ethic, contests, and hands-on activities that grow interest and skill levels. FFA is specifically for high school students and is run mainly by the students with a sponsor, usually the Vocational- agricultural teacher.
Showing livestock is a massive part of FFA. Students who otherwise may not have the opportunity to house, feed, and care for an animal can have that experience within FFA. Students are taught discipline, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while caring for their animals. In FFA, students also participate in contests like public speaking, job interview skills, livestock judging, and farm business management. The entire organization is proud to churn out leaders in the agriculture industry. Not only those who work on farms and with livestock but in the business side of farming and agriculture.
Note that FFA is generally more integrated with public schools, whereas 4-H can have members from either public schools or private, homeschools, etc.
Here is our local 4-H website: Montgomery County 4-H
Here are a few local FFA sites:
The Barns
So what are the ag barns for? They enable students to house animals that they raise for the fair, as well as other various activities related to ag learning as part of these CTE programs and/or FFA events.
You can’t raise animals in your suburban backyard when your neighbors report you to the HOA, which barely allows more than one dog, much less a chicken coop or pig pen. Your apartment or landlord probably doesn’t allow cattle to stay in the common area either.
For those who say you shouldn’t move into the suburbs (or within an HOA), I’d like you to open your mind to the idea that parents and kids do not all have the same opportunities or wherewithal to make those kinds of decisions. Many kids do not even know what animal science is and can be completely closed off to those opportunities without resources like these programs and barns.
As a public school district, we should all want to expand opportunities for our children in every way possible. These barns are those opportunities, and having this space gives more students the option to do something they may really enjoy and find career interest in.
The Shows
As an example for where these kids can take part in these programs, such as showing an animal at the fair, look to the livestock shows! Most people in Greater Houston are familiar with the Houston Rodeo. Did you know Montgomery County has one too? The fair is one of the best parts of the whole thing, where kids can show animals that they’ve been raising for several months. These programs teach responsibility, discipline, and how to hide your disappointment when you don’t place and end up in the freezer sale.
If you’re not as familiar with the Montgomery County Fair & Rodeo give this video a watch and checkout their website.
Here is their current schedule for the livestock show tag-in in case you’re interested:
Hit the Hay
With all this in mind, I am happy that the CISD Board accepted the recommendation of the Bond Committee for Prop C that includes ag barns. I must also commend the committee for binding the ag barns to the gymnasium needs of 16 elementary schools, as it makes that Proposition much more likely to pass.
We could expand indefinitely upon all the different areas that will benefit students with the renovations of existing barns and building of a new one. Hopefully, if you did not understand the conversation around this particular item on ag barns, then you now have some insight into why supporting Prop C of the bond is important.
Extra Notes
3,600 students are in ag courses throughout the district in CISD.
Dr. Null, CISD Superintendent, has said the need for a North County barn is the greatest out of all the extracurriculars.
The new barn would add 100 animal stalls for North County students.
Currently, 46 North County students have animals at the South County ag barns, and 137 South County students have animals at those barns. These numbers ebb and flow depending on the time of year.