Veteran FFA advisor to head new agriscience program at Arkadelphia High School

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

With the occasional whine of power tools in one classroom, the halls of Arkadelphia High School will sound a bit different this year.

That’s because some students, enrolled in the school district’s new agriculture science program, will be learning the ropes of woodwork at the hands of veteran FFA advisor Sammy Cox.

In its first year the district’s ag program drew the interest of 73 AHS students and 54 Goza Middle School students, Cox told members of the Arkadelphia Lions Club on Thursday, Aug. 8.

Three introductory courses will be taught at the high school, and two intro courses are being offered at Goza. By next year the school district will select from two of the five agriscience disciplines. At the recommendation of Dawson Education Services Cooperative, the district is likely to choose Animal Systems and Power Structure & Technical Systems (formerly known as Ag Mechanics). Those two career pathways will serve the needs of area businesses surveyed prior to Arkadelphia’s launch of the agriscience program.

Cox, 56, said teaching at AHS was an opportunity to come home. The Southern Arkansas University alumnus is beginning his 32nd year of teaching agriscience. The Gurdon native has led agriculture programs in Missouri, as well as in Arkansas schools at Ouachita, England and, most recently, Crossett.

The re-introduction of agricultural science in Arkadelphia’s curriculum (the district pulled the plug on the program in 1971) gives pupils the opportunity to join one of the largest student-led organizations: Future Farmers of America. Arkadelphia FFA will be the newest chapter in the state.

Cox quips that his biggest challenge this year will be teaching in the smallest classroom he’s ever been assigned to. At AHS the agriscience courses will be taught in the former engineering lab, which was once part of the library. The program’s inaugural year is being funded by the school district, with hopes that by next school year the state will provide grants to purchase equipment. District administrators are also in the process of determining where the ag program’s permanent home will be.

By then, students will have learned some of the textbook basics of agriscience. Then it’ll be game on for Arkadelphia’s FFA program — time for students to roll up their sleeves and really crank up the power tools.