MIDLAND, Texas —
Midland ISD unveiled their newly renovated swine barn today at the Midland ISD Agriculture Education Center.
“It's an old steer barn that was built in the 50s and we really just don't have the steer projects, but we've always had the need for the swine projects. So, we've been trying to use this steer barn for pigs for years,” said Jeff Horner, CTE executive director for MISD.
A building that has been in use for such a long time requires a lot of time and work to update.
But the district says it was worth it to improve the student experience.
“Basically, we took a dirt floor steer barn, and we enclosed it. We gutted it, beefed it up, cemented, put the floor drains all the way through. We insulated it, heated it, put in the strong ventilation for the animals, and then we brought in overhead lines for adjustments and movement, flexibility and preferred stock show pens, along with four wash bays,” Horner continued.
Ag students in the district feel that projects like the swine barn not only improve the experience of caring for their pigs, but also send the message that they are not forgotten.
“It makes me feel happy because when you think about it, not a lot of people think about the agricultural side of things. I Definitely feel like it definitely benefits us because it just makes us feel thought about. Like, not a lot of people know what FFA is or like anything about showing,” said Aliya Loyd, junior at Legacy High School.
Horner said there are plans to renovate similar buildings around the swine barn in the future.