HAZELTON, Idaho — After nearly three decades without on-site agricultural education, the Valley School District is preparing to bring hands-on ag science and technical training back to students. On Oct. 23, district leaders and Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield joined community members for a groundbreaking ceremony launching a new agriculture education building at Valley High School.
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The roughly $3.5 million facility is scheduled to open next fall and will feature a modern agricultural shop, greenhouse space, and classroom areas designed for today’s industry standards. Along with a focus on production agriculture, the district plans to incorporate instruction that reflects careers across food science, agribusiness, and plant and animal systems.
The majority of the building cost will be covered by a $3.3 million Idaho Career Ready Students grant awarded through the state Department of Education. To meet funding requirements, the district and local supporters launched additional fundraising efforts, including a live auction in spring. Major contributions also include $10,000 donations from the Jerome County Farm Bureau and Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, according to an IFBF report.
Expanding agricultural opportunities has been a priority for the newly formed Valley Agriculture Education Foundation, which led grant efforts. “We are surrounded by agriculture, and there are so many students for whom having an agriculture program can be a real benefit,” said the foundation’s Katy Starr. She noted that offering ag courses starting in middle school allows younger students to explore interests early. Because of this access, “it will give students the ability to take entry-level classes and see where they might have an interest in this field,” she said.
Starr emphasized the importance of building the next generation of industry leaders, adding, “The average age of a farmer or rancher is not getting any younger, and we want to be able to provide students with opportunities to enter that industry” either as producers or through supporting career paths.
Many families in the Hazelton area consider agriculture central to local identity and economic strength. Starr said that community members and parents had long missed the program, but a lack of funding and space prevented its return. The Foundation’s first grant application was unsuccessful, but strong community support and adjustments to the project helped secure funding the second time. “The second time around, we were awarded the grant and it was a game changer for us,” she said.
Currently, Valley High School offers limited career technical classes, and students pursuing more advanced training must travel nearly 27 miles to Burley. Superintendent Ty Jones said the new facility will strengthen local access and align well with programs already available in Cassia County. “For the most part, looking at the ag program, that will complement really nicely the programs they have at Burley,” Jones said.
One of the most anticipated outcomes is the ability to launch a local FFA chapter, an opportunity long out of reach. “One thing we can’t do is that we don’t have an FFA program,” Jones explained. “Having our own ag program will allow our kids to be involved in FFA, which is important to a lot of them.”
District officials expect around 200 students to participate in the program once the new building opens, with hopes of eventually involving two-thirds of students in grades 6-12. Introductory middle school agriculture courses will serve as a pipeline toward specialized high school training, industry certifications, and agricultural science competitions.
The district plans to begin hiring its agriculture instructor early next year, with Gary Jones Construction serving as the building contractor. Jones expressed gratitude to partners and donors who helped make the project possible. “We’re extremely thankful for the state for giving us the grant, and also to the committee” as well as local donors, he said. “To be able to see that type of support has been great.”
When completed, Valley’s new ag education center will not only restore a lost opportunity—it will reshape how rural students envision their futures in an industry that has defined the region for generations.
Originally reported by Brad Carlson in Capital Press.
