Justin Smith was preparing to enter the classroom for the first time as a full-time agricultural instructor and FFA advisor when he received word of a partnership emerging between the Floyd County School of Innovation in Kentucky and AppHarvest, a sustainable food company specializing in high-tech indoor farms.
“The school district saw a need for more hands-on education and had preparations in place,” says Smith.
This partnership now serves as an innovative outlet for FFA members in Martin, Ky., to strengthen their understanding of agricultural technology and food production. Members currently grow and harvest lettuce inside a converted shipping container. The fully automated vertical hydroponic system requires no sunlight or soil. Instead, it utilizes LED lights, peat moss and grow plugs.
“Students can measure nutrients, test pH, check electrical conductivity and more,” says Smith. “Using such high-tech equipment ensures our lettuce grows to the best of its ability and reaches its full potential.”
Advanced technology enables the entire system to be run remotely, all at the press of a button on a cell phone, laptop or other compatible device. Even if members are not inside the farm, they can log into the system and adjust as needed.
“We have access to the Farmhand app, which controls the container farm,” says Kaden Lewis, chapter treasurer. “Seeing how much it can produce is amazing, and my favorite parts are planting seeds and harvesting.
While Smith assisted with initial setup and demonstrations, his members have since gained more independence and demonstrated initiative for their own learning, all of which Smith says are his main goals for the project.
As the container farm continues to gain traction, Smith says it has led to increased interest and enrollment in agriculture-related classes. For members such as chapter president Dakota Stumbo, however, avenues for community outreach offer promising potential.
“With the need for updated technology in the industry and easier avenues available for us to advertise our project, I see our chapter making a huge impact in Floyd County,” says Stumbo.
This summer, the chapter held its first public lettuce sale. Before the sale, most of the produce was sold to the school’s cafeteria and served in meals throughout the academic year. Smith hopes to collaborate with more local businesses in the future.
“People get to purchase locally grown food from a store,” says Lewis. “When they choose to support us, they’re helping raise funds for things we want to do, like attending national FFA convention and the Kentucky State Fair.”
Overall, Smith says the farm enables members to experience agriculture in a new light. The continued partnership with AppHarvest provides periodic training and resources, as well as avenues for chapter members to network with the company’s executives. According to Stumbo, these connections and avenues of continued learning are invaluable.
“You can’t buy the experiences you gain from a project like this,” says Stumbo. “It differs from those found in a more traditional classroom because it’s something I love doing and it aligns with my future career pathway. If someone is considering starting a project like this, I encourage them to go for it.”
