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NewAGSchoolTeachesSecretsofFarming
DougFabbioliisconcernedaboutthefutureoftheruraleconomy, ascities'areasexpandintofarmfields. FabbioliownsawineryinLoudounCounty, Virginia. Hedecidedtosupporttheagriculturaleconomyinhisownway. HeestablishedTheNewAGSchool. Thefreeschoolhopestoraisethenextgenerationoffarmers.
Farmingishardwork, butFabbiolisaysyoungpeoplewouldloveitiftheyknewitsjoys. But, hesays, tosucceedinfarming, theywillneedspecializedskills.
ThatiswhatFabbiolihopestoteachathisnewschool. Thegoalistofilltheimmediateneedforfarmworkers, butalsotocreatefutureleaderswhocanteachothersinyearstocome.
TheNewAGSchoolhasmanydifferentstudents.
"Wehavesomeyoungerfolksthatareeitherrightoutofhighschooloreveninhighschool," Fabbiolisays. Healsohassomestudentswhohavecompletedcollegebutcannotfindjobs, aswellasolderpeoplewhowanttotryfarming.
OlgaGoadalupeAlfosecasaystheprogramishelpingherfindtherightcareer. "Ilearnedalot...mydreamismaybeIcanplantmyownplantsandstartmy... business."
LiamMarshall-Brownwholeftcollege, findsfarmworkinteresting. "It'sfun," hesays. "Imostlydidrestaurantsbefore...youfeeltrappedafterawhile, doingthesamethingoverandoverandoveragain. It'sjustnicetobeoutside. Prettymuchyou'redoingsomethingneweveryday."
Butnotallworkisoutdoors. Studentsstudyfivedifferentsubjects, everythingfromcleaning, horticulture, hospitality, toleadershipandbusiness.
Andthetrainingisnotcompleteuntiltheylearnaboutthemachinestheyuseeveryday; howtheyworkandhowtofixthem.
Asyoumightexpectfromawineryowner, wineproductionisalsopartoftheeducationalprogram.
WinemakerMeaghanTardifisamentorattheschool... sheteachesstudentswinemaking – andleadershipskills.
"MyfavoritepartaboutbeingamentorisIalwaysgivethestudentachancetoteachsomeoneelse," Tardifexplains. "Leadershipiseverywhere. It'snotjustinthework. It'snotjustyouremployees, butithelpsyouthroughoutyourlife."
TheexperiencehascausedMarshall-Browntofindafutureinagriculture.
"Iwouldliketobethat, butIstillhavealottolearntobeabletodothat. HopefullyI'llgetthere, andI'llrunmyownfarmonedayandhavepeopleworkunderme."
ThatpleasesFabbioli, whosaysitisgoodforthecommunitytohavemorefarmers.
HenotesLoudounCountry'spositionasoneoftherichestareasinthenation. HesaysthegoalofthoselivinginthecommunityistosavethelandinwesternLoudounCountyasgreenspace.
Inhiswords, "Wecandothatbyfarming, butweneedmorefarmersverymuch. So, givingpeopletheopportunitytolearn, putmorepeopletowork. Itmayalsokeepthecarsoffthehighwaysbecausethey'relivinglocallyandthey'reworkinglocally."
ThatiswhattheNewAGSchoolhopestodo -- growthenext "crop" ofskilledfarmers.
I'mSusanShand.