OA to host press conference; expected to receive state funding for agriculture laboratories

Corey Green, Owego Apalachin superintendent, will host a press conference on Monday, Nov. 13, in the new STEAM Academy here at OA Schools, joined by New York State Senator Fred Akshar. 

At the conference, the senator is expected to announce the expansion of the “Ag in the Classroom” program from five to 10 schools across the region. In addition to the program’s expansion into new schools, Owego Apalachin is one of two school districts that will receive $350,000 to construct new Agricultural Laboratories to help bring agricultural education to life for local students in innovative and unprecedented ways.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect, said Green. “With Senator Akshar’s shared vision and support, at Owego Apalachin we’re making bold moves to ensure that our students are well prepared for the world awaiting them, and what better way to help us in that challenge than by bringing the world to them,” Green stated, adding, “We hope that through the growth of our new STEAM Academy we’re building the strong foundation on which we will become a model for other schools and other communities, statewide and perhaps even nationwide.” 

The second school district expected to receive this new funding is Windsor. Dr. Jason Andrews, Windsor superintendent, is expected to attend Monday’s event. 

Ag in the Classroom brings agricultural education into classrooms to connect local students through Agricultural Educators from Cornell Cooperative Extension. The program is designed to help students gain a greater appreciation for agriculture and its impact on our community, and it highlights the benefits of pursuing careers in the growing multi-billion dollar industry. 

This past January, Akshar announced the “Ag in the Classroom” pilot program, enacted in five school districts, OA Schools being one of them. The pilot program concluded in August. 

The other school districts initially involved were Windsor, Maine-Endwell, Union-Endicott and Harpursville. The program was well received and with the senator’s announcement Monday, will expand to add five additional schools (Tioga Central, Chenango Valley, Greene, Bainbridge-Guilford and Deposit). 

“We had high expectations when we first announced our Ag in the Classroom partnership in January, and I’m excited to report that the pilot program was met with overwhelming enthusiasm and support from our kids, parents and teachers alike,” Akshar said. 

He added, “I’m so proud to continue this program with a team of dedicated, hardworking partners who share our vision and expand it further into the 52nd Senate District to reach as many of our kids as possible and help educate the next generation on the wide range of career opportunities available through agriculture.” 

Akshar went on to praise Owego Apalachin and Windsor, specifically. 

“Windsor and Owego Apalachin have gone above and beyond as partners in helping deliver quality agricultural education,” the senator said. “These grants will help provide our kids with a window into how incredibly diverse opportunities in the agriculture industry really are.” 

“Our goals are aggressive,” Green said. “But with partners such as Senator Akshar, Cornell Cooperative Extension (which administers the Ag in the Classroom program), and Broome-Tioga BOCES, to name just a few, who recognize how quickly our STEAM Academy has come online, and how our Agriculture in the Classroom focus has captured our students’ attention, we all stand together with realistic optimism and unbridled enthusiasm.”

“Things may seem to be happening quickly, from an outsider’s perspective,” Green added. “But with crystal-clear vision, we’re seeing our goals transition to tangible classroom success.”