By Emily Caldwell
If you had attended Penn State with Mike Woods (’09 Agricultural and Extension Education) like I did, you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he is leading of one of the most exciting agricultural programs in the state. Even as an undergrad, Mike’s passion for educating youth and supporting FFA was evident.
Now, Mike is an instructor and FFA adviser at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
He teaches more than 200 youth and advises 170 FFA members, from 9th through 12th grade a year. His course load includes animal science, greenhouse management, food science and safety, and landscape and floral design, just to name a few.
Some of the more than 2,600 students at the school may not even realize it is also home to an “Ag Suite” featuring several animals for classroom education. Mike is in charge of several chickens, pigs, rabbits, a variety of reptiles and birds, and in one of the most recent additions, alpacas that graze around the solar panels at the school.
Mike’s most recent efforts involved opening up the classroom experience to everyone. His blog “Peaches the Pig” allowed students, parents, fellow faculty and anyone else interested to get a truly inside look as Peaches, a Berkshire pig, gave birth to a litter of piglets.
Follow the blog for updates about Peaches and her offspring, as well as many other great agricultural activities Mike is leading at CV.
Be sure to “Like” the Cumberland Valley FFA Facebook page, and contact Mike for ways to support the school and the efforts of FFA: [email protected] or (717) 506-3467.