Planting The Seeds

Polk County Farm Bureau Names Outstanding Agriculture Program and Teacher of the Year

- Mary Toothman

SOMETIMES THE PHRASE “practice makes perfect” is merely a figure of speech. Other times, every bit of it rings true. Just ask Donna Oliver, ag teacher at Karen M. Siegel Academy. Oliver has been teaching agriscience for 31 years. On October 10, her program was recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Agriculture Program of the Year by the Polk County Farm Bureau.

The 80-member agriscience program primarily focuses on horticulture. “We have a greenhouse, a shade house and a hydroponic gardening area in our land lab,” Oliver says. “Students also learn about agriculture from the farm-to-table in agriscience class and even learn how to prepare vegetables and fruits and how to make simple foods.”

In addition to doing landscaping around the campus, students participate in the Great American Cleanup/Keep Polk County Beautiful every year.

“We concentrate on lots of hands-on activities,” she says. “By the time we make it to the end of the year, we have learned a lot and have had many successes.”

Some of the students’ efforts are showcased in the Polk County Youth Fair. They are judged alongside all other youth from the county and receive ribbons and sometimes money.

“Our school had a tri-color winner last year, which was a big deal as there are only a few of these awards given out during the fair,” Oliver explains.

Students also compete in the career development events at host schools. Some participate in forestry and citrus competitions held at the same time as county contests.

Oliver says the school’s program was recognized at the state FFA Convention for 100 percent membership every year since 2009.