Bond, donors aid Ag Barn for Boerne ISD

With help from donors and interest from a 2022 bond, the Boerne Independent School District has made several improvements to the Ag Barn, according to an update.

Those betterments include adding a sheep and goat walker, and improving pens by adding sand and creating a practice show arena for pigs, officials said.

Boerne ISD’s rental arrangement with the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Road, grants the district access to the Ag Barn for just $1 a year.

Over the past few months, the district has invested in significant improvements to the space, using interest from Bond 2022 funds for repairs, upgrades and more, educators said.

BISD has more than 900 high schoolers enrolled in agriculture- related career and technical education pathways through Future Farmers of America.

For students interested in animal husbandry, welding, floral design and more, access to facilities and resources opens a world of possibilities, the district said.

These areas, and the improvements, help take the program to the next level, according to Barn Manager Tanessa Sawyer.

“Our students have become skilled at caring for and raising their animals, but the showmanship piece was still proving difficult before these upgrades,” Sawyer said. “With the improvements — and the donations from the Stumberg family and the Kendall County Junior Livestock Association — we are blessed to have these new additions that our students will use for decades to come.”

The Bond 2022 accrued interest went toward new animal enclosures that were installed over the summer, officials said.

The Ag Barn houses goats, pigs and sheep, and there are now distinct areas for the animals to prevent the spread of illness and to give students more space to care for and practice showing them.

Electrical and water hookups were added, and upgrades to flooring and roofing were made, officials said.

Agriculture science teachers from both Boerne and Champion high schools, as well as agents of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Kendall County, oversee the agriculture program.

In addition to the Boerne ISD program, the barn accepts participants much earlier through a relationship with 4-H.

“Having access to the barn, especially for students who do not live in a rural area, eliminates obstacles,” said Lexi Seaman, ag teacher at Boerne High. “If a student living in downtown Boerne wants to participate, they can get involved with 4-H as soon as they’re 7 years old or in third grade – whichever comes first.”

Seaman added, “We’re so excited to have this space and to offer the opportunity for them to start pursuing their passions earlier.”

For more, contact Sawyer at [email protected].