Our Region 20 Agriscience Program

Though now consolidated into Region 20, our State-funded Agricultural Education Program continues under the direction of Casey Manzolino, Agriscience Director at Lakeview High School. It currently embraces 239 of Lakeview’s 595 students, giving them the opportunity to focus on Agriscience majors,or simply dabble in elective course offerings.

Over the years this program has not only grown, but become more diversified, complex and sophisticated. More students have begun to take advantage of these offerings and found employment opportunities both during and beyond their high school years. They have used them as business thresholds, as well as to open doors to an expanding number of college and university majors. Several of our students have continued on, earning masters and doctorate degrees.

Beginning in mid-October, 8th grade students are recruited from school districts in Harwinton/Burlington, Terryville/Plymouth, Thomaston, Torrington, and our own Region 20 middle school. They can apply online for the 2026/27 school year, but their applications must be filed on or before December 12, 2025. Only 55-60 students are accepted into the core program.

The criteria evaluated are: 
(1) Demonstrated Career Interest 
(2) Agri-Staff Interview 
(3) Teacher/Counselor/Personal Recommendation(s) 
(4) Attendance 
(5) Academic Records 
(6) Behavioral Records 
(7) Assessment of Standardized Test Scores.

The student must be willing to work, putting in 50 extra hours each quarter, and 200 Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) hours total per year.

Prospective 8th grade students will be hosted for an open house November 20th, from 4-7 pm.

Students selected for the core program will take Agriculture I, II, III, and IV, as well as electives in specialized areas of Agri-Mechanics, Veterinary Science, Large Animal and Equine Science, Plant Science, Food Science, and Natural Resources. Shared electives (encompassed in Ag- I, II) offered to all students include Agricultural Business; Agricultural History & Development; Animal Biotechnology; Applications in Natural Resources, Animal Sciences, Plant Sciences or Agricultural Mechanics; Canine Grooming & Kennel Management; Equine Science; Large Animal Health; Introduction to Companion Animals, Behavior and Training of Domestic Animals; Sustainable Agriculture; Fundamentals of Horticulture; Floral Art and Advanced Floral Art.

All core students join the National FFA organization, where they learn to apply tenets of Agri-Business: keeping track of costs, expenses, taxes and income; logging work hours; keeping plant and animal health and production records. They invite speakers, develop leadership skills, attend conferences, and often become active in school governance. Additionally, they may act as agricultural lab and teaching assistants guiding upcoming students as they work toward completing their own Supervised Agricultural Experience, launching career development.

The Supervised Agricultural Experience is an individualized guided student project encompassing all 4 years at Lakeview, as well as some time during the summers, weekends, and school vacations. Towards the end of their freshman year students submit a proposal outlining a preferred work-study in an area of a particular agricultural interest. This can be in conjunction with a volunteer or paid position sponsored through companies such as Blue Seal, Tractor Supply, local veterinarians, clinics, groomers, equine centers, pet shelters such as The Little Guild, ECD Service Dogs, Ripley’s Waterfowl Conservancy, Florists, and foundations like White Memorial. They can raise animals, develop feeds, preserve and market farm products, take on farm or garden maintenance, landscaping, forestry or even an environmental project. They can also develop an agribusiness of their own design. The actualization, commitment, learning the innuendos of the business, plus the hands-on experience offer a unique opportunity, preparing students for successful higher education, career and life experiences.

The FFA also offers Extra Curricular Conferences, Career Development Workshops on a variety of topics covering Argi-technology, Mechanics, Floriculture, Wildlife and Environmental Studies, Vaccines, and Veterinary updates. The competitive events they offer enhance teamwork, co-operative and social skills. Tractor restoration, the timber team, and the equestrian riding teams are favorites that knit together students from different grade levels with diverse interests.

Lakeview’s Agriscience program features an onsite shop, marketing honey, maple syrup and a variety of farm products made by students as they progress through the school year. They have set their holiday sale for Dec. 6th, 9 am-1 pm, this year, featuring the sale of wreaths, swags, cemetery sprays made by students, and poinsettias grown in their own greenhouse. A dog wash will also be offered by appointment at that time.

A sale of Lillies is a featured event during the Spring Semester. Other events are posted at Lakeview, Blue Seal, local post offices or online at https://www.rsd20.org/o/lakeviewhs/page/agriscience.

Heather Rubbo, Agricultural Assistant, keeps a Job Board for folks looking for student help throughout the school year, schedules mower and snowblower maintenance for Agri-Mechanic students, schedules dog washes, takes reservations for quantity orders of wreaths or swags and lilies, and is on hand to answer almost any question about the Agriscience program. She can be contacted at hrubbo@rsd20.org or (860) 567-6649.