The Roosevelt High School agriculture program has added new fish to its aquaponics tanks to enhance the hands-on learning environment. The addition will help students "deepen their understanding of sustainable agriculture, animal care and agribusiness," and develop critical problem-solving and teamwork skills, according to a Weld RE-5J news release.
Under the direction of agriculture instructors like Brent Hopkins, students will be tasked with raising the fish, including monitoring water quality, managing system maintenance, adhering to feeding schedules and tracking growth, the release said. The aquaponics tanks incorporate lessons in biology, chemistry and environmental science, while teaching students how to integrate sustainable food production with real-world business planning.
The program allows students to explore the business side of agriculture, such as analyzing production costs, evaluating market opportunities and hosting a fish fry later this year, according to the release.
"This project brings together so many aspects of agricultural education," Hopkins said. "Students are learning how to care for living animals, manage resources efficiently and think like entrepreneurs. It's exciting to watch them connect the dots between the science, the business and the community impact."
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