TYLER, Texas — There was some excitement buzzing around at Legacy High School Wednesday afternoon.
Students participating in the Legacy FFA program introduced two new bee nucleus colonies to their campus as part of the agricultural curriculum.
Ag-Science teacher, Brad Hardin, said that this project allows students throughout several of the high school's programs to participate. The cedar boxes used for keeping the bees were built by the school's career technology students and in June, the life-skills students will assist in harvesting the honey.
Hardin also said he is so proud of how dedicated the students have been, with many planning to keep the hobby going following graduation.
“In the end our idea is to be able to kind of as a graduation as a gift to some of those who have come through our program is to send them away with their own suits, hive, send them away with their own colony that they can continue with if they choose”
This project is a first for Legacy FFA but not a first in East Texas. In 2019, Hawkins High School's FFA program gained national attention after the all-female 'bee team' helped safely transport a bee infestation from local water plant, Ozarka.
Ozarka now funds the projects for participating schools and the beekeeping skills are being provided by Flint Farm & Apiary.
The students will be ready to harvest the honey this Summer and one local grocery store may begin selling the local goods. All proceeds raised through the project goes towards students and scholarship funds.
