Left to right: Caden Meyer, Kate Hartman, Maggie Wallace, Elijah Steenbergh. Submitted photo
The biotechnology program and Sanilac FFA chapter at the Sanilac Career Center have received a $48,000 grant. The grant was offered under a state funded program that allowed general agriculture education and FFA to apply for up to $50,000. The grant could go for things like equipment purchases, facility improvements or repairs, new construction, or technology. The funding could not support the use of consumable or perishable items, salaries or scholarships.
Biotechnology chose three areas to focus on: updating the lighting in the greenhouse, pasture improvements, and restoration of the viewing dock in the environmental center.
At the Sanilac Career Center, the biotechnology program has a 30’ x 96’ greenhouse that was built in 1996. It is used to instruct students in the areas of plant anatomy, nutrition and reproduction, along with integrated pest management, soils and hydroponics. The greenhouse is also a big asset for raising 500 hanging baskets every spring as the main fundraiser for the FFA chapter’s student functions. Ben Holbrook, owner of Storm Electric, LLC., provided the service of installing all new LED lighting and equipment and updating the electrical needed in the greenhouse. Jeff Mast of TotalGrow out of Holland was responsible for assisting in the lighting research and purchase. He also helped secure an additional incentive through the DTE Energy Efficiency Program for Business.
The Sanilac Career Center is home to an eleven-acre pasture that serves to host brood cows, breeding ewes and goats, as well as being the foundation for student fair projects. The animal science curriculum uses the animals as hands-on projects to teach students the fundamentals of animal anatomy, nutrition, reproduction, market demands and meat production. The grant assisted in the addition of a well at the pasture location. Cambridge Well Drilling of Watertown and Don Reifert Electric, LLC. were responsible for the completion of this portion of the project.
The third and final focus was to restore the viewing dock in the environmental center. The Sanilac Career Center is home to a walking trail and pond in the nature area. The viewing dock has slowly deteriorated over the years and is not safe to use at this time. The remaining dollars of the grant will utilize the Career Center’s construction trades program and their students to build and install the new dock. This area is used by the biotechnology students to study habitat development and management as well as species identification and other current issues with the environment. This project will be completed by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
