Since the first week of February, students at Phil Campbell High School have been busy in the school’s greenhouse – growing vegetables and flowers and also cultivating their own knowledge and skills, all under the direction of agriculture instructor Caleb Beason.
“I really desire for students, when they leave my program, that they are what I describe as a well-rounded student,” explained Beason, who has taught ag at Phil Campbell since 2018 – his own classes defined by the education he received under Russellville High School agriscience teacher Donnie Nichols. “We saw how important plant production was during the year of COVID; 2020, especially the middle of March when so many people were getting laid off from work, there was a study released by the USDA saying more gardens were planted that year in modern times than there had been in many years.
All of Beason’s classes are involved in greenhouse work, from the general agriscience, fundamentals of ag and greenhouse production classes, even to his construction and framing and animal science classes – about 100 students in total.
“I like doing things with my hands and seeing the progress of all the plants,” explained senior Hannah Presley. The same is true for junior Mason Mims. “I just like working with my friends and being hands on,” Mims agreed. The school’s greenhouse was constructed in 2015, after the 2011 tornado demolished the former structure, and Beason said the current facility is top notch, complete with concrete floors and a good ventilation system.
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