CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — While many students are spending summer vacation relaxing, some Clovis East High School students are using their break to gain hands-on work experience through the school’s agriculture program.<\/p>\n
At the Clovis East farm, students spend several days each week harvesting fruit, caring for animals and preparing products for sale to the community.<\/p>\n
Sophomore Cyrus Goodman is among the students helping with the harvest. After spending time on the farm, he has learned how to identify quality produce and avoid damaged fruit.<\/p>\n
“You wouldn’t want ones like that, you know, eaten up by birds or worms,” Goodman said.<\/p>\n
The farm co-op is one of Clovis East’s Supervised Agricultural Experience projects. Agriculture teacher Martha Marin said students play an important role in running the operation.<\/p>\n
“They help us maintain and harvest our stone fruit, and then our grapes, and then also plant some melons and pumpkins that will go that we will sell in the fall,” Marin said.<\/p>\n
After harvesting, students wash and prepare the fruit for sale. On Saturdays, they market their products directly to the public through farmers markets and U-pick events.<\/p>\n
At the end of the summer, participating students receive scholarships in recognition of their work.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on the farm, floral design students are creating arrangements for events scheduled throughout the summer.<\/p>\n
Junior Kooper Alvarez said their work often extends beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
“We do weddings and stuff, and we’ll go and we’ll help set up,” Alvarez said.<\/p>\n
The farm is also home to students raising livestock for exhibition and sale at the Big Fresno Fair. Participants care for a variety of animals, including turkeys, steers, goats, sheep and swine.<\/p>\n
“We got take them out to lawn and do some showmanship work to just get them ready for fair,” said sophomore Cody Steele. “We also got to train their hair to go toward their head.”<\/p>\n
Students spend much of the summer feeding animals, maintaining their appearance and preparing them for competition.<\/p>\n
For many participants, the experience is about more than agriculture. It also provides responsibility, practical skills and a productive way to spend the summer months.<\/p>\n
“I don’t mind it. I’m here anyways, and I kind of enjoy it,” said junior Frank McGill.<\/p>\n
Goodman agreed.<\/p>\n
“I like coming out here. I like working,” he said. “It’s such a great opportunity to see and learn new things instead of being at home.”<\/p>\n
Community members can purchase student-harvested fruit at the Clovis East farm’s farmers market, held Saturdays on the Gettysburg Avenue side of the farm from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
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