The future of land stewardship is moving out of the classroom and into the barn. Through Agriculture Land Labs, students are engaging in hands-on, outdoor learning that brings environmental and agricultural concepts to life. These labs come in many shapes and sizes—ranging from small sheep pastures and greenhouses to expansive acreage for cropland.
For many students, the Land Lab is where curriculum becomes reality. These spaces provide a unique opportunity for students to discover passions they might never have encountered otherwise, particularly those who aren’t exposed to agriculture at home.
By providing a dedicated space for animal husbandry and crop management, these programs empower students to become the next generation of land stewards. Furthermore, students who may struggle in a traditional classroom setting often thrive in the lab, where curriculum is applied through direct, tactile experience. Supported by agricultural educators and a network of community mentors who provide guidance and hands-on assistance, these students gain the professional skills and “real-world” experience necessary to lead the future of agriculture.
Visiting a Land Lab in Augusta County
Several Augusta County high schools have invested in Land Labs, and we took a trip to check out one of them, the Wilson Memorial High School Agriculture Land Lab. Built in 2019 using funds generated from timber cleared directly from the site, the Lab represents a full-circle investment in student education and stands as a testament to community resourcefulness, as well as a dedicated mission to engage the next generation of land stewards.
All students in ag classes at Wilson Memorial High have the opportunity to help breed, raise, and care for piglets in the lab.
During the visit, Alliance’s Annie Kate Walsh and Joe Moore spoke with Alyssa Landis and Brandon Strosnider, both agriculture teachers at Wilson High and Middle schools respectively, about how the facility provides every student not only the opportunity to breed, raise and care for pigs but also the chance to gain invaluable, real-world professional skills and experience as a core part of their education.
Some students choose to raise an animal for show at state and county fairs as their required Supervised Ag Experience.
The Ag Lab provides students a place to house these animals.