When we think of a classroom, desks, chairs and chalkboards come to mind. When VO-AG students think of a classroom, the Bison Range, tree nurseries and peppermint farms come to mind.
VO-AG's all-day field trip started out bright and early at 6:30 on Oct. 7. Followed by a 45-minute bus drive to the Bison Range in Moiese, Montana, the students also visited Plum Creek Tree Nursery in Pablo and a potato and peppermint farm outside of Pablo.
"It's one of the best field trips I've ever taken students on," said Bing Holling, AG center biology teacher.
Upon arrival, the Ag-2 and Ag-3 classes watched two videos on the bison and their lives. The students were able to watch the bison being rounded up and separated into groups of 10 to 15, then the calves were branded. The bison were counted and given vaccinations.
"It was neat to see (the roundup) because it's not something you see every day," said sophomore Crystal Averill.
The classes were then split into two groups, half going to the tree nursery and half to the potato farm.
At the tree nursery, Mark Montsdille talked to the students about how the nursery worked. The students learned that the nursery contains 1.7 million seedlings. Of these, 1.6 million seedlings make it from the greenhouse to the forest. Once they are in the forest the seedlings have an 80 percent chance of surviving.
"We got to see unique aspects of agricultural related careers," said sophomore Renee Fisher. Jan Lake, who cooperates a peppermint and potato farm, talked to the students. The potatoes are grown in greenhouses to prevent the plants from getting diseased and to protect against harsh weather. Each greenhouse contains around 20,000 seeds.
"It's really neat to see how science and agriculture go hand in hand," said Clark Krantz, teacher
of the Ag-3 class. "I hope these tours inspire the ag students to start working in these areas."