From transforming raw materials into fine crafts to establishing new green spaces and partnering with local leaders, the Agriculture Program at Rockingham Academy is buzzing with student creativity, hard work, and technical innovation. Here is a look at what our middle and high school agriculture students have been accomplishing both inside the classroom and out in the community.
Craftsmanship & Woodworking: From Raw Timber to Refined Art
Students in our Applied Agriculture Concepts classes have been honing their woodworking and shop skills through precision craftsmanship. Working with rough-cut lumber, students measured, cut, glued, and sanded raw timber into stunning end-grain cutting boards and charcuterie boards.
In addition to mastering traditional shop safety, tools, and project design, students are putting their hands-on skills to work on cutting-edge equipment. Our Middle School Agriculture classes are currently gearing up for a cross-curricular project combining geography, technology, and woodworking. Using the program’s xTool laser engraver and cutter, students will precision-engrave Virginia's major rivers and cities onto custom wooden maps before laser-cutting the state’s iconic outline.
Horticulture & Sustainability: Hydroponics, Planting, and Creative Design
The Horticulture department has been actively growing, blooming, and creating across several sustainability projects:
Hydroponic Production: Students recently sowed a fresh variety of herb and leafy green seeds—including lettuce, spinach, and kale—to kick off the next growing cycle in our two indoor hydroponic systems.
Campus Beautification: Taking their skills outdoors, students refreshed multiple campus landscape beds and decorative planters with vibrant new flowers.
Artistic Expressions: Blending agriculture with creative design, students hand-crafted and painted unique artwork on custom clay flowerpots.
Growing Local Partnerships: Harrisonburg Public Works & Grants
Community support continues to power our students' success. Rockingham Academy is excited to recognize our newest community partner, Harrisonburg Public Works, who generously donated a variety of lumber to support our shop projects. In appreciation, our Ecology students used their woodworking skills to design, construct, and deliver two custom handcrafted Adirondack chairs directly to the Public Works team!
The partnership doesn't end there. Rockingham Academy was recently awarded a $900 grant from the Blue Ridge Community College Career Pathways Consortium to establish a brand-new pollinator and learning garden on campus. Harrisonburg Public Works will join forces with our students once again to assist in building and bringing this interactive environmental space to life.
Looking Ahead
Whether designing with laser precision, cultivating hydroponic crops, or building durable furniture for community leaders, Rockingham Academy students are proving that Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides practical skills for a lifetime.
Thank you to our dedicated teachers, community partners, and hard-working students for making our school a brighter, greener place to learn!