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POLK COUNTY—Recently, seventeen students from the Polk County High Agriculture Program toured the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Center in Mills River, N.C. These same students are currently enrolled in the horticulture classes taught by Polk County teacher Chauncey Barber.

The Research Station in Mills River focuses its agricultural research on crops grown in our region. They conduct studies and breeding projects on ornamental plants and tomatoes. In addition, there is significant work that benefits the commercial apple industry in N.C., S.C., and northern Georgia.

First, the Polk students visited the tissue culture lab, where scientists propagate new plants for the nursery and biofuels industries. Tissue culture gives researchers a method of propagation that can produce vast numbers of plants in a short period of time. After visiting the tissue culture lab, students toured the ornamental greenhouse, where plant breeding is performed, and the research apple orchard. 

“One of the goals of our Ag program at Polk County High School is to show students the current methods of farming as well as those new crops and methods to be used in the future,” said Barber. “We try to expose our Ag students to potential career opportunities.”

Polk County High Agricultural students who participated in the tour were Keidi Aguilera, Gunnar Alm, Mason Bieler, Peyton Camby, Skyler Covil, David Duffy, Charley Dusenbury, Noah Harden, Taylor Hensley, Hannah Kirby, Essie Mitchell, Junie Mitchell, Skylar Parker, Petyon Rice, Ashlyn Scruggs, Karson Scruggs and Gracie Turner. They were accompanied by Ag Teacher Chauncey Barber and volunteer John Vining