Last week, Greeley West Horticulture partnered with several companies in Weld County to teach and demonstrate to students about career pathways and future jobs in the industry of horticulture and landscape.

There were four demonstrations happening at Greeley West. The City of Greeley and Happy Life did a tree planting demonstration in which they planted four trees in the front of the school where students learned where and when to plant trees. Mac Equipment led a demonstration where students got to use lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other mechanized tools.  Students not only learned how to use them, but how to use them with safety. Belgard Pavers taught students how to make walkways, where they designed and built a patio standard with bricks in the back parking lot. Finally, DBC Irrigation built and installed sprinkler systems in the back of the school near the auxiliary gym. 

In these demonstrations, students did hands on activities to learn how to use tools and set up/install different utilities. “I’ve learned a lot more about how things work in the industries,” said freshman Samantha Lanning. “We all need all of the things that I learned yesterday to have the growing community of employment for everyone.”

“It was mainly for the focus of showing kids what sort of jobs are in the industry and also helping identify some skills they might have for summer jobs that they could do,” said Samantha Pierce, an agriculture teacher who runs the Horticulture program.

Not only did students learn how to work in the industry, but they are also applying these skills into their home life. “Being at home and seeing my dad work I can say I learned that at school and I can offer help and use that knowledge,” said junior Diego Corrales.