CUHSD Rodgers Ranch showcase highlights CTE
Apr. 26—Career Technical Education was the focus of this year's Corning Union High School District Rodgers Ranch Showcase event where students shared with the community the benefits and education they are earning through the district's Pathways program.
Rodgers Ranch, 177 acres located on Loleta Avenue at Marguerite Avenue, was gifted to the school district by the Rodgers family in 2001. Since that time the district has worked to develop the acreage into a place of education for students, financial independence, and FFA support.
During the showcase, District Superintendent Jared Caylor welcomed the more that 100 guests as they perused the displays and exhibits shared by students in the Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways of Entrepreneurship Careers in Business, Marketing, Cardinal Nest, Forestry and Natural Resources, Agriculture Mechanics, Agriscience, Food Safety and Hospitality, Patient Care, Residential and Commercial Construction, Ornamental Horticulture, Product Innovation and Design, Performing Arts and Child Development.
"We are here to make connections," Caylor said. "Connections between industry, students, faculty and higher education. We want to build relationships in an effort to see our young people excel and we believe CTE is a way to do that."
As guests, school staff and students sat down to a dinner served by CTE students, Corning High School Associate Principal Jason Armstrong explained this was the second annual Rodgers Ranch Showcase the district has hosted,
"We see this as an opportunity to get together and discuss the needs and gaps in the job field that we can help our students be prepared to fill as they graduate and move into the workforce," he said.
The keynote speaker for the event was Sandy Dale, consultant with the National Center for Executive Leadership and School Board Development.
Dale has worked in education, particularly agriculture education, for 32 years, specifically in high school for 23 years. She is currently the director of CTE for Fortuna High School District and program specialist for North Coast Agriculture Partners.
"What an event, this is awesome," she started off saying.
Dale went on to explain how her years as a high school student in agriculture helped develop her self-confidence.
"As an educator today I want to make sure students and staff have programs that are at their finest throughout the state," she added. "I see CTE as helping students take what hey are learning and applying it to life after high school with the ability to go right into the work field, skilled and productive. CTE is a leg-up for many of our students."
She went on to say that CUHSD is doing a "fantastic job doing just that."
Working throughout the state as she does, Dale said there is proof the CTE program is working.
Following Dale's remarks, students at each dinner table was encouraged to explain their CTE Pathways program, ask questions of the guests and share information in an effort to make "connections."
As a background to the event, guests and students looked out upon the ranches livestock barn, which currently houses FFA livestock projects students are prepping for next week's Tehama District Jr. Livestock Auction, the show barn, classrooms, herd of registered Angus cattle, peach orchard, berry patch, greenhouse, walnut and olive orchard, pumpkin patch, irrigated pasture, creek bed, R Farm House and more.
Corning High School senior Cynthia Aguirre said if not for Rodgers Ranch she would not have been able to raise and sell pigs at the Tehama District Jr. Livestock Auction over the past four years as a member of FFA.
"I have raised my pigs here for the past four years, coming every morning and evening to take feed and take care of them," she added. "I am grateful for the opportunities this ranch has offered me in FFA and CTE."
