Students who want to pursue veterinary science and agricultural based courses can do so at Forsyth County's newest high school.
Shelly Williams, Veterinary Science teacher for the Denmark High School Danes, said the county purchased land and incorporated existing buildings into the design of the new school.
"We were just lucky because this was already here," Williams explained. "In fact, it was a working horse farm for thoroughbreds, the race horses, built in the 1980's. So, when the land was purchased, rather than tear it down, they left it here."
She said the program already offers hands-on experience with several donated animals including a Great Dane puppy named Lucy, two goats named This Goat and That Goat, two mini-horses named Junebug and Cricket, a Tennessee Walker horse named Prince, and a Corgi puppy named Tula.
Students who choose the program will be exposed to many different opportunities. Williams said, "It starts out with the basic agriculture class where we study everything from plants, animals, soil, farm machinery, and just a broad based class so that kids can kind of hone in on things that grab their interest."
Williams said students will follow a three year pathway where they will learn more about farm machinery, animal science and biotechnology, as well a treatment and diagnosis of veterinary diseases. She said that translates into services offered to the public. "We hope to provide treatment services, grooming services, and maybe even some boarding or doggie daycare services while the students are here during the day," Williams explained. "They can use all of these projects to compete in FFA: Future Farmers of America."
She hopes to partner with the community to create student-driven coursework.
Denmark High School started the school year with 4 full animal science classes and hopes to expand the program in the coming years.
