Preparing for the future: District provides ag facility for FFA students

LYFORD — With the livestock show competition season coming into full swing, the district’s Future Farmers of America students have an agriculture facility to look forward to using.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility last week, FFA officers had the opportunity to provide guests a detailed tour of how the district’s new agriculture facility will be used.

The new facility can house up to 30 to 40 small animals and 12 large animals.

The estimated cost of the facility is $1,246,000 and is located on 14 acres of land.

The district plans to open the agriculture facility to students as early as late August.

“Lyford CISD has a great history of excellence and leadership in our Ag/FFA program. Our exceptional program now has an exceptional facility that will provide more leadership and learning opportunities for more students at Lyford CISD,” said Eduardo Infante, superintendent. “Our students and our community deserve this great facility.”

The facility is built on a 14-acre tract of land. It sits on five acres and two to three acres will be used as pasture for grazing.

The district held its official ribbon-cutting for the facility Feb. 10 that drew current and former FFA students, local leaders and the community.

For more than two decades FFA students have had to care for their farm animals at home, leaving many students living within the city limits looking for alternatives to find a place to take care of their livestock.

“The opening of this facility is special in so many ways,” said Jesse Guerra, Lyford High agriculture teacher.

“Not only does it give every student at Lyford CISD the opportunity to raise a show animal, it also represents the potential for student learning, student growth, stewardship, future leaders, sportsmanship and so much more or as we in the FFA world would say ‘infinite potential.’”