Generations of students and workers have passed through New Plymouth High School’s 80-year-old agriculture shop. 

In the 1950s, current agriculture teacher Chase Shoemaker’s maternal grandfather worked in the shop, followed by his father and then Chase 50 years later. Now, it’s getting a well-deserved retirement. 

Thanks to a $2.27 million Idaho Career Ready Students (ICRS) grant and a donation of the metal structure from R&M Steel, the chain-link ribbon was just cut on a new agricultural building adjacent to New Plymouth High School. 

The new building will host around 146 students, roughly half of New Plymouth High School’s student body in this agriculture-centered community. Students will utilize the building for hands-on learning in welding, meat cutting, plant science, animal biology, and more. 

Though not all of these students will go into agriculture, Shoemaker explains the transferable skills and “real-world spin” on the sciences his classes offer, contributing to their consistent waitlists. 

In addition, students can earn six different AWS welding certifications, which will be made easier by the upgrade from only 5-6 welding stations in the old building to around 20 stations in the new shop. 

Other certificate opportunities include a new meat-cutting certification through the Northwest Meat Processors Association. Shoemaker, who raises 150 bison a year, heard from his connections in the meat-packing industry about their critical need for skilled workers. The new industry certificate, impossible in the old building due to space and safety code limitations, will provide students a pathway to higher-paying agricultural job opportunities. 

Kraten Barker, a student and FFA officer who will benefit from the new building next year as a senior, testified to the hands-on nature of the ag classes. “Physically doing hands-on work…instead of just reading about it has been great,” Kraten explained, describing how amazing it was to see flowers he planted in their greenhouse blossom. 

Kraten praised Shoemaker’s dedication, saying, “Shoemaker put in so many hours [for the ICRS grant]. It’s been a long year of him trying to get everything ready, and we cannot be more thankful for that. It’s been a long time coming. Shoemaker said, ‘let’s get this done,’ and now we have a beautiful new ag shop.” 

In addition to taking steer to the fair every year, Kraten competes in FFA competitions and attends an annual leadership luncheon with state representatives. He hopes the new building will draw even more FFA students. Currently, about one-third of students in the ag program participate in FFA.

The move-in to the new building takes place this week.