Spencer FFA Chapter recognized its 70th anniversary in 2020
The Spencer Agricultural Education Program was to celebrate its 70th Anniversary in 2020. Unfortunately, with the issues created by the COVID-19 outbreak, there wasn’t an opportunity to publicize and recognize our history. This will be the first in a series of articles that will recognize the history the Spencer Agricultural Education program.
Spencer Board of Education Meeting, Aug. 22, 1949. From the Spencer Record, Sept. 1, 1949: Mr. Cohler presented a brief prepared by the nominated committee in which they recommended that an agriculture program should be added to the curriculum as soon as possible and that a building 42 ft. by 64 ft. be constructed to house the project. A loan of $15,500 was recommended to build and to furnish the necessary equipment. The nominated committee members included: Henry Wachholz, Art Beahm, Arnold Bruesewitz, Byron Hoke, Chas. Neuenfeldt, and W. Cohler.
Construction began almost immediately on a new agriculture building. The original building still exists today on the elementary playground -- the building was adjacent to the original high school building. In January 1950, the new agriculture program began under the leadership of Mr. Garold Beaster. The students helped with the construction of some of the classroom furnishings including a bookcase that is still in the agricultural education classroom today.
The agriculture classroom has had a number of homes in the past 70 years. The program was housed in the original building until 1974. In 1975, the agriculture classroom was moved to Room 126 in the high school building. The original building shop was still used for a few implement set-up projects for the Spencer Co-op Implement by instructor Danny Meyer.
Major changes occurred in 1992. A new large classroom was constructed in the existing wood shop and a new 24-foot by 48-foot greenhouse was connected to the new classroom. The current classroom has continued to be updated with small animal space and a food science lab.
The Spencer Agricultural Education program has been served by 11 instructors in the past 70 years. Garold Beaster, the first instructor, was a UW-Platteville graduate. After leaving teaching, Mr. Beaster worked for Midland Cooperative. Danny Meyer rechartered the FFA Chapter in 1975. The chapter’s charter had been suspended for not reporting membership to the state for three years. Spencer had maintained a local Ag Club but didn’t report this membership to the state FFA association.
Donna Olson was the first female instructor. She was a UW-River Falls graduate. Mark Zimmerman, also a UW-River Falls graduate, has been the longest serving instructor with 32 years at this time.
