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Agriculture
        Teaching Today Minnesota | Spring 2025                                                                                                 Page 7


                   Ag Program at BLHS is About Preparing Students for Success

                 Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart   Welding 1 and 2 are immersed in hands-  for the greenhouse class to store extra pots, soil,
                 Schools                    on learning techniques to practice various   and materials in. Students have been learning
                     Within the communities of   beads in MIG, stick, and TIG. There is also an   hands-on carpentry skills including laying out
        Buffalo Lake, Hector, and Stewart is the agri-  8 x 4 CNC plasma cutting table that practices   the walls and floor joists, framing, and making
        cultural program that is built on a foundation of   CAD software skills. We create fire pits for the   a gambrel roof. To round out the year, students
        hands-on learning, real-world applications, and   Buffalo Lake annual ice fishing contest raffle   will be shingling, installing the door, and fin-
        collaboration. BLHS graduates about 30-35 stu-  as well as other items that support positive   ishing trim. Through these hands-on situations,
        dents each year as we serve around 100 students   school culture. In Welding 2, students complete   students not only gain technical expertise but
        each year in the agriculture department.  Our   the OSHA-10 General Industry certification to   also improve their problem-solving, critical
        courses include Welding 1 & 2, Home Mainte-  utilize beyond high school. Two years ago, a   thinking, and teamwork abilities.
        nance, Small Gas Engines, Woodworking, and   local manufacturing business, Schweiss Doors,   The  Woodworking class completes a
        Ag Construction; as well as classroom courses   generously donated new welding booths, cus-  variety of projects each year, ranging from
        of Food Science, Vet Science, Middle School   tomized welding tables, storage cabinets, and   duck houses, cutting boards, outdoor furniture
        Ag, Natural Resources, and Horticulture. Our   a manifold system. We also received Perkins   and games, to coffee tables, nightstands, and
        small, but mighty program encourages  real-  funding and a MAELC grant to purchase new   personal projects. Last year, over 30 students
        life experiences to advance students’ careers in   Miller welders and a hand held plasma cutter.   enrolled in Woods 1, resulting in two different
        agriculture.                        This has greatly increased the quality of stu-  sections. We were fortunate to have a commu-
            BLHS partners with nearby businesses   dents’ education and opportunities for welding   nity expert, Brad Dobberstein, come in each
        and colleges to provide opportunities for our   projects which meet current industry standards.   day for over a month to help students with
        students to see local career options after high   A favorite among students is the Home   their woodworking projects.  Additionally, he
        school. Each year, we tour a local manufactur-  Maintenance class, where students complete 14   assisted with teaching about machine mainte-
        ing business with the welding classes. We also   lab scenarios that could be done in a real home.   nance in the shop. He is a fantastic mentor that   The skills our students acquire and the experi-
        host a career fair for grades 9–12 that foster a   Labs include framing a wall, wiring an outlet,   greatly helped our program.   ences they share with others will serve as the
        connection between our students and potential   wiring a 3-way switch, PEX plumbing that con-  Ultimately, our  agricultural program  is   foundation for their future endeavors in the
        employers. In addition to the career fair, BLHS   nects to a sink, insulation, sheetrock, mud and   about preparing students for success, whether   ever-changing world of agriculture.
        partners with a nearby college for a “Teacher   taping, repairing a hole, and painting. Each of   that means pursuing a career in agriculture and
        Takeover”.  This event features 10–15 various   these labs simulate as if they are on a job, and   trades,  entering  the  workforce,  or  continuing
        programs, instructors and even some of their   students are tasked to complete the job and   their education in the field. We have a strong
        students “takeover” the agriculture depart-  write a report with materials used.   support system through the BLHS FFA Alumni,   www.blhsd.org
        ment during the day to interact with students to   Within the  Ag Construction class, stu-  who provide immense funding and networking
        develop an interest in post-secondary education.   dents are building a new 8' x 12' garden shed   opportunities to further advance our program.























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