FAIRMONT — Fairmont High School’s ag students have been busy this semester. Ag teacher Katie Elder gave an update on the program.

This semester, Elder is teaching wildlife management, landscaping, and animal science. Last semester she taught exploring agriculture and small animal science.

Elder said there’s also an Ag business class and a plant science class which aren’t being offered right now because it’s dependent on what students sign up for.

While those classes are for students in grades 9-12, Elder also teaches Ag 7, which is a new course this year for seventh graders.

“They’re with me for nine weeks and they learn the basics of agriculture. We cover plants, animals and a little bit of food science,” Elder said.

Elder went on to explain that the seventh graders cycle through the ag program, art, tech and family and consumer science so they can get a feel for what they’re interested in.

As the weather has gotten nicer, ag students have been spending more time in the school’s greenhouse.

“We have some plants in the greenhouse. They’re looking pretty good,” Elder said.

She said the landscaping class has specifically been working in the greenhouse a lot this semester.

“We have some stuff growing for the culinary art class as well. I have some zucchini growing and we also have cilantro, basil and some lettuce,” Elder said.

She said they also have some petunias, zinnias and black-eyed Susans.

“We’re going to start growing some strawberries. That will be a pretty cool experience, even for me. I’ve never grown strawberries before,” Elder said.

She also said they’re going to be begining working in their raised garden beds soon.

Aside from being the school’s ag teacher, Elder is also the FFA advisor.

“We’re getting back into in-person meetings. We actually had three teams qualify for State,” Elder said.

State will take place later this month and will be held virtually this year. The horse judging team, milk quality team and poultry judging team all qualified for state. Each team has four members.

Elder said FFA has been meeting about once a month There are about 40 active FFA members in grades 9-12.

The 2020-21 school year is Elder’s first year teaching. She moved to Fairmont last summer and is originally from Fancy Farm, KY.

“I really do enjoy Fairmont. I think I’m in the right spot. I really enjoy teaching, especially in the CTE department. It’s so strong compared to other parts of the country,” Elder said.

Elder said one of her 7th graders recently asked her what agriculture is. The question made her reflect on how grateful she is to teach the subject.

“I tell them, you all don’t know how lucky you are to get this opportunity. Not every school gets this,” Elder said.