by Mike Orso
The growth of a new agriculture program at a McHenry County high school takes a significant next step with the grand opening of a new greenhouse scheduled for Wednesday, February 5.
Alden-Hebron (A-H) School District 19 Middle and High School will feature a ribbon cutting to open the new facility as part of the district’s annual “Giants Showcase” open house at the combined school, just off Route 47 in the northern McHenry County community.
“Throughout the agriculture world we talk about industry where you need to pursue further education and industry where you don’t,” said Alexandra “Alex” Buseski, A-H agriculture teacher and FFA adviser. “So, it’s providing a whole different route of education and post-graduate opportunities for them.”
Agriculture programs had already existed at Harvard and Marengo high schools. The A-H school district revived its agriculture program in 2023. Horticulture represents just one of seven different components of agriculture A-H students can explore. Others include Agricultural Biology, Agricultural Mechanics, Food Science, Exploring Agriculture (middle school), Introduction to Agriculture (high school) and Workplace Experience. It is affiliated with the National FFA Organization, which serves as a non-profit, career and technical student organization that promotes careers in agriculture, food and natural resources.
“The community and the students wanted it,” said Buseski. “There was a push from within the community and within the school for them to get some form of education about that.”
The program starts with an A-H Middle School course 8th graders receive to provide an introduction to agriculture and FFA. High schoolers then have an opportunity to take an overview course along with specific ones and become more involved in FFA.
“There was a lot of excitement, a lot of interest in something new,” said Buseski. “I had a lot of my students taking three of my classes last year just because there was something new on the choice list.”
Statistics provided by the school show the new program has been embraced by students. Of the 109 high schoolers now at A-H, 70% have enrolled in one of the new agriculture classes.
Of the students enrolled in the A-H agriculture courses, between 15-20 have actively participated in FFA. An FFA officer team of 7 students organizes monthly activities to engage other members. They include such things as so-called “Career Development Events (CDEs)” which include competitions. A-H students have participated in CEDs on agricultural education, agronomy, dairy cattle judging, dairy foods, meat science, veterinary science. CEDs they also will compete in include horticulture, job interviews, livestock judging and public speaking.
Buseski, 22, grew up near Byron on what she calls a “hobby farm” with horses, pigs and poultry in Ogle County. Involved in FFA during high school, she took courses at Highland Community College in Freeport and then transferred to Iowa State University, where she achieved a degree in agricultural education.
“I love McHenry County, there is a lot to do here,” she said. “I really like the people up here and especially being in this school, this community. Everyone is so supportive of the ag program and what we are doing. I feel really good about where I am at.”
The A-H event on February 5 begins at 5:30 p.m. with a meal at the school. The greenhouse ribbon cutting takes place around 6:15 p.m., with the A-H Giants Showcase open house starting at 6:30 p.m.
Alexandra “Alex” Buseski, agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Alden-Hebron Middle and High School stands by descriptors of her current courses at the school. (photo by Mike Orso)
“I learn something new every day,” said Alex Buseski, agriculture teacher and FFA adviser. “I also learned you can’t do everything at once all the time. I have to be patient and learn from mistakes and accept that I can always change things down the road.” (photo by Mike Orso)