FFA Chapter & 4-H Club:

In 1999 OBI became only the second private school in the nation to charter an FFA chapter. Members build and exercise leadership skills by participating in local, regional, and state competitions.

 

Agriculture Education:

 

 

 

Using the three integral components of FFA (classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience, and life skills), the farm offers hands-on experience to expose the students to a diverse field of career opportunities from agricultural mechanics to livestock production.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classroom Instruction:

An agricultural enrichment class is offered to middle school students to develop their specific area of interest. High school students may earn academic credit in classes such as veterinary science, animal and plant science, landscaping, horticulture, tractor driving, and welding.

 

 

 

 

Hands-On Learning:

 

Students may join the morning or afternoon farm work crew where they will develop valuable work ethics and life skills. They learn responsibility and leadership skills by completing their assigned tasks and by supervising the performance of their peers.

 

 

 

 

Diversified Livestock Production:

Students learn to manage a variety of livestock. Working with the 100-head goat herd, they may learn anything from trimming hooves to proper de-worming techniques. They study how to process and vaccinate pigs in the farrow to finish swine facility. And the beef herd provides the show-calf crop and experience with pasture management.

 

 

 

Livestock Judging & Evaluation:

Every spring students may choose to train a dairy or beef calf, goat, and/or hog to showcase at our annual livestock show and at the county fair in June.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tractor Driving:

 

 

After passing a tractor safety course, students age 16 and older may drive tractors and gain experience in planting, harvesting, spreading fertilizer, drilling seed, and grinding feed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agricultural Mechanics:

 

 

 

 

Some students discover an interest in agricultural mechanics and maintenance. They are faced with the challenges of keeping machinery and equipment operational, and they may express their creative side by designing and fabricating unique equipment for specific farming needs.

 

 

 

 

 

Feed Production:

Feed production is another aspect of farming that students can explore. Using bagged supplements, soybean meal, and farm raised corn, students learn to balance rations to meet the nutritional needs of our livestock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farm Staff:

It is the desire of the OBI farm staff to lead by example and provide a working and learning environment where the students can witness God’s splendor through His creations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteering on the OBI Farm:

Each year the OBI farm is blessed with over 100 volunteers from all across the United States.  Some help for a week or two, while others commit to several months.  It is because of these volunteers that we are able to make major farm improvements, plant and harvest corn, and maintain or increase our current production.