'Harvesting Tomorrow' field trip introduces Pender County students to agricultural careers

BURGAW − On one side of the field amid the numerous tents and display booths were baby goats and several horticultural booths.

On the opposite side were large-scale farming and construction machines. Some drones even showed up.

Amid the cheerful laughter of students on a bright morning in early April, the distinct calls of a traditional auctioneer cut through the soundscape.

"This is cool," said one of the nearly 900 fifth-grade Pender County students who had cycled through the agricultural day activities at Penderlea Farms in Burgaw.

Mission accomplished.

Dubbed "Harvesting Tomorrow: Cultivating Sustainable Futures" and put on by the district's Career and Technical Education The purpose of this program is to acquaint students with some of the careers that significantly contribute to Pender County’s economy. As reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2022, Pender County supported over 354 farms which produced an income exceeding $246 million. Key agricultural outputs from these operations include hogs, chickens, corn, and soybeans.

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But getting the kids out of the classroom and into the field also has another purpose − to retain Pender's best and brightest by, hopefully, hooking them young to show them that working outside, often with their hands, is cool and can be fun.

Pender County can have trouble doing that. Aside from a booming commerce park on U.S. 421 near the New Hanover County line and a surging construction and service economy along the county's coastal strip centered around U.S. 17, Pender doesn't have much outside of agriculture-based careers to offer its young people.

But officials want more than to be a home for retirees or commuters working in Wilmington or Camp Lejeune, and that starts with showcasing the county's rich agriculture history and economy.

"Seeing it, touching it, feeling it, that's a whole other level of experience for our students," said Dominique Bates, Pender's CTE director.

In addition to demonstrating to students the career opportunities available locally, this field trip serves as another method for CTE to tailor its programs according to the needs of nearby industries' workforce requirements.

“Just having that exposure and being aware that these career exist, and that they can be lucrative careers, that's what we want to show," Bates added. "We’re hoping to equip our students with the tools they need to make it work here."

And to keep them at home when they graduate.

"We want to retain our people," Bates said.

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This was the second year for the agricultural day field trip, and both years it has been held at Penderlea Farms just outside Burgaw.

Richard Johnson , who owns the 580-acre farm where he grows heritage live oaks, said he enjoyed highlighting the county's numerous and varied agricultural-based careers to the students.

He added with a chuckle, 'Moreover, it demonstrates to the children that school can be awesome, and they shouldn’t think of themselves as too cool for school.'

So will there be a third ag day next year?

Bates affirmed confidently, listing the favorable comments he has received regarding the event from sellers, moms and dads, kids, and his educator colleagues.

He stated, "It’s becoming a regular occurrence now.” “We’re committed to making this happen annually without fail.”

For additional information regarding Pender Schools' CTE program or to join next year’s Agricultural Day, reach out to Dominique Bates. dominique_bates@pender.k12.nc.us

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 'Harvesting Tomorrow' field trip introduces Pender County students to agricultural careers