“The new farm will enhance the learning of Dixon’s students and FFA members”

DIXON, CA (MPG) - In a community like Dixon surrounded by row crops, dairies, and a huge lamb processing plant, it’s perfectly natural for Dixon High School to have a large Agriculture Department. Now, two new school barns and an additional greenhouse were added and celebrated last Saturday with a grand opening where long-time instructor John Ramos cut the red ribbon.  

“Oh man, it was great! I’ve never done something like that. We’ve been looking forward to this for so long,” said Ramos who is relieved after so many years of “begging” anyone with a bit of extra land to let his students raise an animal on their property.

Tours were offered after the ceremony through the buildings that are located at the end of the new football stadium and parking areas. They are not far from the long row of Ag classrooms, where students learn welding, soil composition, floriculture, and animal sciences, through many hands-on experiences that help them be job-ready.

It’s been a long wait. When students interested in farming wanted to raise lambs or pigs at the old high school site, they were able to utilize space on Sievers Road—a bit of a drive but still in town.  But that site was sold to help garner enough monies to build a new barn so for the past few years, Future Farmers of America students were on their own.

In 2019, a Career Technical Education Facilities grant was awarded to the school by the State Department of Education and FFA students and staff looked forward to groundbreaking. Saturday’s Official Ribbon Cutting seemed exciting.

“I think it’s wonderful that the tradition of having a facility for hands-on learning is back. And it’s not seven miles away. It’s on-site!” said Bill Scott, a long-time Ag teacher at Dixon High, now retired. “The new farm will enhance the learning of Dixon’s students and FFA members.”

Ag classes explore the physical and chemical nature of soil as well as the relationships between soil, plants, animals, and agricultural practices. Students examine the properties of soil and land and their connections to plant and animal production. In relation to animals in Ag classes, students have opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge of restraint, handling, behavior, etc., and ultimately will be able to properly handle livestock of varying species.

“I think it’s going to be a slow and gradual process before all the animals can come in because there’s some more equipment [that] needs to be purchased but hopefully by the May Fair season, they can raise their animals and spring crops right here"'in their own backyard,” said Ramos.