By Blake Jackson
On October 19, 2023, students from Londonderry Elementary School gathered to witness the dedication of Pennsylvania's newest mobile ag lab. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of the mobile ag lab program.
The new lab is the first of six new trailers that will replace the outdated vehicles in the program. The new trailers are designed to be more durable and to withstand the wear and tear of traveling through Pennsylvania's back roads and storms.
The mobile ag lab program was started in 2003 by four farming families who saw the need for agricultural education in Pennsylvania schools. The program has since grown to include six mobile labs that travel the state educating students grades K-5 on where their food comes from and the science behind farming.
The new lab was funded by a donation of $100,000 from the Wenger Group, a Rheems-based company. The company's donation was matched by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Foundation.
Rebecca Lehman, this year's FFA state secretary, spoke at the dedication ceremony about the importance of agricultural education and the FFA. She noted that the FFA brings children into agriculture and gives them inspiration to join FFA or other ag-related programs in high school.
Patricia Sanker, acting superintendent for Lower Dauphin School District, also spoke at the ceremony. She emphasized the importance of student exposure to the mobile ag labs. She noted that the labs provide students with STEM activities that they would not normally get in the classroom. She also noted that the labs can help students to learn about climate change and its impact on farming.
The mobile ag lab program is a valuable resource for Pennsylvania schools. It provides students with the opportunity to learn about agriculture in a hands-on way. The program also helps to promote agricultural education and to encourage students to consider a career in agriculture.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-anna-tarazevich
Categories: Pennsylvania, Equipment & Machinery