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February 21, 2020

V-S Animal Learning Lab celebrates six years of ag education

In March 2020, the Animal Learning Lab at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School celebrates its sixth anniversary. The lab provides V-S students with unique curriculum opportunities and stronger learning experiences in animal production and technology. It’s a valuable resource for students to learn more about where agricultural food sources begin and how they arrive in the store. The facility also serves as a community asset as it can host workshops and community outreach programs involving other school districts, 4-H groups, or organizations like ISU Extension.

Six years ago, the community celebrated the completion of the animal learning lab at Vinton-Shellsburg High School.

The learning lab gives students hands-on instruction. In many cases, today’s students interested in agriculture careers may not have opportunities to experience farm life first-hand. The animal learning lab essentially brings the “barn,” and all of its experiences directly to the student. It is a home to student’s SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experiences) projects when they can’t be housed at their residence. V-S students have access to courses like Ag I, aqua science, animal science, ag business, landscape design, natural resources, intro to horticulture, and vet med. Other classes, including principles of agronomy and precision farming, are scheduled on alternating years.

Grants, donations, and input from several area businesses and community members made the facility a reality. Financial support for the project included a $10,500 gift from Cargill and a commitment from our local ag ed advisory committee to raise $150,000.

The animal learning lab also supports the school’s branch of the National FFA Organization. FFA is a youth leadership organization that helps students develop life skills through their motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve. The lab offers space to help with fruit sales and FFA meetings and events. V-S FFA will be celebrating National FFA Week from February 22 to 29. Watch the school’s social media pages for highlights of the program throughout the week.

For more information about the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District, please visit www.vscsd.org.To learn more about the V-S FFA Chapter, contact Melissa Heeren at Melissa.heeren@vscsd.org.

(photo left) The Animal Learning Lab gives students hands-on experience with the birthing and processing a variety of babies like piglets and chicks.

(photo center) Students have the ability to participate in a wide range of activities and classes within the AL lab. The facility has room for instruction with horses, cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, rabbits, and companion animals. It offers learning space for non-traditional learning opportunities including the dissection of plants and animals, post mortem evaluations, and other (messy) activities not appropriate for a traditional classroom.

(photo right) The AL lab is equipped with rabbit/poultry cages, a cattle chute, pig scale, pig crate, chicken coops, and livestock gates/panels.  

Article by VSCSD / District, High School, News

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1502 C. Avenue
Vinton, IA 52349
319-436-4728

High School

Phone
319-436-4728 (dial 3)
Fax
319-472-5704
Address
210 W 21st St  Vinton, IA 52349

Middle School

Phone
319-436-4728 (dial 4)
Fax
319-472-4014
Address
212 W. 15th St Vinton, IA 52349

Shellsburg

Phone
319-436-4728 (dial 5)
Fax
319-436-2294
Address
203 Cottage St. Shellsburg, IA 52332

Tilford

Phone
319-436-4728 (dial 2)
Fax
319-472-2742
Address
308 E 13th St  Vinton, IA 52349

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Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District Equity Statement: The Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District provides equal educational and employment opportunities and will not illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District shall take affirmative action in recruitment, appointment, assignment, and advancement of women and men, minorities and disabled. Inquiries regarding compliance with equal educational or employment opportunities and/or affirmative action shall be directed to Becky Lutgen, Equity Coordinator, Vinton-Shellsburg CSD, 1502 C Avenue, Vinton, Iowa 52349. Inquiries may also be addressed in writing to the Director of the Region VII Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, or the Director of the Region VII Office of Civil Rights, United States Department of Education in Chicago, IL

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