In 2019, the Career & Technical Education (CTE) teachers at Perkins County visited the CTE programs and facilities at York and High Plains, both of which incorporate live animal facilities into their programs. According to Perkins County FFA Co-Advisor Seth Burge, they left these visits feeling inspired, kicking around ideas for how to bring their own animal facility to life.
The idea had circulated for a couple of years, and in 2023, they involved the FFA officer team in creating a plan of action. This team of students and advisors applied for a 2023 Nebraska FFA Foundation chapter grant and received funding in the fall. The original concept was a small facility within their initial budget, but as additional funding and community support grew, the project evolved into something much larger.
One of Perkins County FFA’s biggest challenges with this project was managing construction costs and staying on schedule with their funding timelines. They overcame this obstacle by involving their students enrolled in building construction courses to complete much of the construction work. While this approach moved more slowly than hiring outside contractors, it also provided an on-campus, real-world project and a source of pride for the building construction students, many of whom are also FFA members and enrolled in animal science classes.
Today, the Perkins County FFA Animal Learning Lab is in its final stages of completion. The 54- x 34-foot facility now includes a laboratory classroom with designated areas to care for and study a variety of species, including goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, rodents, reptiles, fish, cats, and dogs. The FFA Chapter has collaborated with local livestock producers and pet owners to bring animals into the learning lab for as little as one class period or up to a few weeks at a time. Equipment in the lab includes a sow farrowing crate, kidding and lambing pens, aquaponic tanks, Trout in the Classroom program supplies, an animal weigh scale, poultry egg incubators, brooders, and poultry harvesting equipment. Technology, such as a large classroom display, ultrasound monitor and probes, and other veterinary diagnostic tools, is also incorporated to enhance hands-on learning.
Students use the Animal Learning Lab for a variety of daily projects. The lab provides a dedicated space for specimen dissections, practicing animal restraint techniques, and performing physical and ultrasound examinations on live animals. In the fall semester, the lab houses a farrowing sow and kidding goats, allowing students to care for them daily and, if timing aligns, witness the birthing process. In the spring, animal science classes raise broiler chickens from day-old chicks through processing, giving students a full farm-to-table experience.
A major milestone for the project came in spring 2025, when students raised their first flock of broiler chickens, an accomplishment that highlighted how far they had come from concept to reality.
However, Perkins County FFA is not done dreaming yet. Future plans for the Animal Lab include incorporating aquaponics systems and introducing small animals that will live permanently in the lab. This will take more time and management, so it will be phased in as students gain experience with their current projects. They also aim to create educational opportunities for visiting elementary students and to offer space for FFA members’ SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) projects.
The Nebraska FFA Foundation chapter grant was the very first source of funding Perkins County FFA received for the project.
“That initial investment motivated us to push the project forward, inspiring additional funding, school board approval, and garnering community support,” shared Burge. “This project has brought together students, staff, and the community to build something meaningful that will benefit students for years to come.”
The Nebraska FFA Foundation is committed to creating opportunities for FFA chapters to build memorable, hands-on experiences and become involved citizens in their communities. The grant that Perkins County FFA received was funded by the Nebraska FFA Foundation and generous donors who support the Foundation’s Local Chapter Grant Program.
