Officers from the Silver Lake Chapter of the Future Farmers of America representing the Career and Technical Education Department’s horticulture program spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 23 about their appreciation for the new greenhouse.

Junior Ciara Cohane of Kingston, the reporter for the Silver Lake Chapter, founded in 1956, said the Silver Lake district has continually supported and valued agriculture education.

“As students, we appreciate the continued investment in our education as we prepare for careers and college in fields related to our study in the horticulture program,” she said.

She said the program has high hopes for the years to come, and with the new greenhouse they will be able to accomplish so much.

The greenhouse was funded through the Massachusetts Capital Skills Grant Program. Silver Lake was awarded $397,826. The greenhouse it replaced was built in the 1960s.

Senior Noah Silvia of Kingston, the chapter treasurer, didn’t hold back in describing a greenhouse that he said had “seen better days” as “a mess.” He didn’t have use of the old greenhouse as a learning space his junior year because it was torn down, and he’s excited about the coming year.

He said they will never forget being part of the opening for the new building.

“By the end of the year we as a chapter will have expanded our knowledge of commercial greenhouse growing,” he said. “You’ll see what we learned as we showcase our knowledge and results at our annual spring plant sale in 2020.”

Chapter President Mikayla Barrow, a senior from Plympton, said she’s honored to recognize and thank the people who have made the making of the greenhouse happen, starting with their horticulture instructors, Ethan Dangelo and Glenn Gausman, who inspired them to do their best.

She also thanks Horticulture Advisory Committee members for advocating for the need for the building and caring about their growth and industry, administrators including Superintendent Joy Blackwood, Assistant Superintendent Jill Proulx, Principal Michaela Gill and Director of Business Services Christine Healy for their support, and CTE Director Elliott Glass for writing the grant.

“As the president, I get to do the honors of cutting this ribbon to officially open our greenhouse dedicated to the generations of students whose feet will pass through these walls eager to soak up all they can about agriculture education,” she said.

The students were joined at the ceremony by all the CTE instructors, Silver Lake administration and School Committee members and advisory committee members from all the CTE programs. Afterwards, everyone sat down to dinner prepared by students in the culinary program.

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Photo Courtesy of Wicked Local