Help save vo-ag

Dear Editor,

We would like to enlist your help in a very important matter.

As you're probably aware, the Vocational Agriculture program has been eliminated at McCook Senior High. This was done as a matter of budget restrictions. At a recent school board meeting, it was announced that the board was acting in response to a "worst-case scenario" from a fiscal standpoint. The board made the comment that if funds were to become available, it would revisit the vo-ag issue if there were enough support for the program in the curriculum.

It now appears there is a slight chance that funds may be available. The only chance we have to reinstate the ag program at McCook is to show the school board and administration that there is strong support for this program in the community. It is our opinion that a strong instructor be hired who will take the program to new levels of agricultural academics. As we all know agriculture is not just "cows and crops" anymore. There are many new, exciting fields with tremendous opportunities such as aquaculture, horticulture, turf management, landscaping, recreation and dozens of others that will pique the interest of not only rural, but urban students as well.

I think that we can all agree that Southwest Nebraska is primarily an agricultural community with virtually all business rooted in farming, ranching and related agri-businesses. it is important that we give the students in our area the opportunity to become involved in agriculture through a strong vo-ag program at our high school.

If you agree with us, please contact the McCook Board of Education members and McCook High School administrators and voice your support for ag education at McCook Senior High.

Please take time to write or phone the key individuals involved to convey your support of agriculture. (School board members are Greg Larson, Jim Coady, Mike Gonzales, Jack Clark, Ron Soden and Dawn Andersen) To be most effective, please copy Don Marchant, McCook superintendent of schools, with any correspondence. Time is of the essence. If the program is to be reinstated, a new instructor must be hired before the new school year, so please act promptly.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact any of us.

Thank you for your consideration of this most important issue. Leigh Hoyt

Kent Been

Cal Siegfried

McCook