Yancey County Schools is pleased to announce they were recently notified that the Animal Science Pathway Expansion Project, aka The Barn, has been endorsed by the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation (ADFP) Advisory Committee. As a result of this endorsement, the ADFP Trust Fund has awarded $450,000 to YCS to assist in building The Barn and related facilities on the MHHS campus. The Barn will house farm animals, classroom space and an open air show arena for competitions.
MHHS began offering the Animal Science course at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and is taught by Mikayla Beysher. These students have been learning how to care for farm animals as well as prepare and show them for regional, state and national competitions.
Superintendent Kathy Amos shared her feelings about this most recent news. “I am so excited for our animal science program,” she stated. ”Thank you to NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, CTE Director Cynthia Deyton, Principal Daron Williams, Grant Writer Robert Branch and our community partners David Davis and Adam McCurry.”
Yancey County Schools will collaborate with 4-H, NC Cooperative Extension and the Cattlemen's Association to ensure that these community partners can also utilize the facilities. The Barn is currently in the design phase and YCS plans to begin construction in the Spring.
Read the official press release from NC ADFP here.