Valley School District restarting ag program

By Sean Ellis

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

HAZELTON – Valley School District is creating a new agriculture education program for its students. It just needs a little more help.

The district covers the eastern end of Jerome County, in the Eden and Hazelton area.

It is located in the agriculture-rich Magic Valley of southcentral Idaho and is one of the only school districts in that region without an ag program.

VSD secured a $3.3 million Idaho Career Ready Students grant and is working to raise the remaining $500,000 it needs to fund a state-of-the-art ag education building.

The Valley Agriculture Education Foundation will hold a fundraising dinner and live auction April 11 to try to raise the funds that are still needed for the ag education building.

The district has one high school – Valley High School – which has about 200 students, and the ag education program will also be open to middle school students.

Katy Starr, communications and marketing director for VAEF, said the new ag education program and building will help ensure that middle and high school students in the Eden and Hazelton communities gain the skills, knowledge and hands-on training necessary to thrive in Idaho’s agricultural sector.

“This isn’t just about building a facility; it’s about investing in the future of agriculture and creating opportunities for students to develop real-world skills,” said VAEF Chairwoman Krista Huettig. “With the support of our community, we can shape and provide opportunities to the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and ag leaders.”

Jerome County Farm Bureau has donated $10,000 toward the new building project and president Amy Mitchell said the organization realizes projects such as this will not only benefit students, but the region’s and state’s agriculture community as well.

“This project has the opportunity to give students some critical training so in the future, hopefully they can come back to our community and work in the agricultural sector,” said Mitchell, who raises beef cattle near Jerome.

The new building will feature modern shop and classroom spaces designed to equip students with real-world, hands-on agricultural experience, Starr said.

The April 11 fundraising event – “Cultivating Legacy – Growing for Generations” – will take place at the Canyon Crest event center in Twin Falls, beginning at 6 p.m.

VAEF, a non-profit organization formed in 2024 for the purpose of bringing the Valley School District ag program and building project to life, is inviting the valley’s leading agriculture businesses, farmers and ranchers and other community supporters to take part in the fundraiser.

That event will feature dinner, live and silent auctions and, according to Starr, “the opportunity to invest in the future of Idaho agriculture by helping fund this critical educational initiative.”

Idaho rancher and social media influencer Jessie Jarvis will emcee the event, and Jack Riggs will serve as the auctioneer.

For ticket information, sponsorship opportunities or to donate auction items, contact VAEF at valleyagedfoundation@gmail.com or visit the Valley Agriculture Education Foundation Facebook page.

For more information, contact Krista Huettig at (208) 751-9510.

The Valley School District’s original ag program was discontinued in the 1990s for various reasons and Starr said community supporters have been working in recent years to restart it. However, limited classroom space and the need for a shop have posed challenges, she said.

Valley School District has been one of the only districts in the region without an agriculture program, despite being surrounded by farming and ranching operations that drive the local economy.

A recent University of Idaho study by Jerome County Extension educator Steven Hines found that the agriculture industry is responsible for 59 percent of total sales and 42 percent of the jobs in the Magic Valley.

That study – “Contributions of Agribusiness to the Magic Valley Economy” – also found the industry is responsible for 48 percent of the valley’s gross regional product, which represents the total value of goods and services.

“The vibrant economy of the Magic Valley is driven by agribusiness, which includes on-farm production, ag processing and the ag services that directly support agriculture,” the report’s executive summary states.

“With this new program and facility, students will gain hands-on experience in livestock management, crop science, ag mechanics, and business operations, giving them the skills they need to pursue careers in agriculture and ag-related industries,” Starr said.

The impact will go far beyond the students, she added.

“This program is an investment in the future of our local ag industry,” Starr said.

She said farmers, ranchers, and ag businesses across the Magic Valley are facing an aging workforce and a growing need for skilled, knowledgeable employees, whether in farming, veterinary services, agribusiness, irrigation, banking, or processing.

“By training students in these areas early, we’re building a pipeline of future professionals who will stay in our communities, contribute to local businesses, and help sustain Idaho agriculture for generations to come,” Starr said. “When students see career opportunities in their own community, they are more likely to stay, work, and raise families here in the Magic Valley, helping sustain the long-term vitality of our local economy.”