By Kathryn Coulibaly
There’s nothing elementary school children like better than interacting with cute, furry farm animals, but when your tour guides are also cool, older high school students, the excitement is off the charts.
It’s no wonder, then, that Phillipsburg High School’s (PHS) Barnyard Days are legendary in the community. For most of the past 46 years, students involved with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) host students from area schools and the wider community for two days to showcase the school’s agricultural program and introduce children to common farm animals such as horses, goats, ducks, chickens, sheep and more.
FFA students are assigned to various locations where they instruct area schoolchildren on how to care for the animals, what they like to eat and drink, and other characteristics. The PHS students create posters with vital statistics about the animals and answer questions.
Over the course of two days in the spring, the students will interact with more than 1,200 students from 10 schools and more than 400 adults.
“This is still an agricultural community, but we want to expose younger children to typical farm animals and get them excited about working with animals,” says Jessica Heritage, an agricultural science teacher at PHS and the school’s FFA advisor.
In addition to leading discussions about the animals, students demonstrate farm equipment, guide school groups and show off the school’s greenhouse. One of the highlights is the community pig roast.
Phillipsburg High School’s future farmers
PHS has an active FFA program that introduces students to careers in agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, veterinary science and so much more. Students compete in statewide and national competitions, networking with other students across the state and the country.
“Programs like this are for future generations,” says Nate, a student and FFA member. “Without farmers there’s no food. We’re building up rural areas, and we’re losing farmland and that could cause us to be unable to feed people.”
Along with teaching agriculture , FFA imparts many other skills that students can take into any aspect of their lives.
“FFA teaches public speaking and communications,” says Cindy Bowman, a retired paraprofessional in the district who volunteers to help with Barnyard Days. “I was a member of FFA as a student and now I’m involved with the Grange.”
A labor of love
Chase Sherburne, the 2023-24 New Jersey State FFA president, drove more than two hours from his home in Salem County to attend Barnyard Days and support the program.
“I got involved in FFA because I wanted to try something new,” Sherburne recalls. “I had a friend who was attending Salem County VoTech, so I took a chance and joined the agriculture program. I fell in love with FFA immediately.”
Sherburne is now studying agricultural education at Salem County Community College and hopes to someday be an FFA adviser.
For Heritage, connecting students through a love for taking care of plants and animals is a big part of why Barnyard Days is such a labor of love, and she’s grateful for the support they receive from area businesses and government entities.
“We’re so fortunate to have support from the American Dairy Association, Crayola, ShopRite, Keystone and New Jersey’s Fish and Wildlife Department. And so many of our alumni come back to help us, which is a great way for us to show current students the impact of what they’re learning, especially when our graduates are working in agriculture-related fields. Phillipsburg is a tight community, and it’s great to help continue the Barnyard Days tradition.”
Kathryn Coulibaly is the associate editor of the NJEA Review and provides content and support to njea.org. She can be reached at kcoulibaly@njea.org.
More than a Garden State
According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture the state had, as of 2022, nearly 10,000 farms and productive farmland covered more than 710,000 acres. New Jersey farmers produce more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables and are one of the top 10 producers of blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, spinach, squash and more. Fish and seafood are also a huge industry in the state, valued at more than $185 million.
What is the Future Farmers of America?
FFA is a national educational organization, some 850,800 members strong, preparing young people for leadership and careers in agriculture. As one of the three integral components of Agricultural Education, FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
In New Jersey, more than 3,000 members engage in personal, career and leadership development activities that challenge them to excel as they develop agricultural skills and competencies for the future.
Learn more about FFA and NJ’s agriculture education resources at nj.gov/agriculture/ag_ed.