Aladdin Dining Services Staff will manage the new composting efforts. L to R: Dining Services Director Mike Ferguson, Crystal Wade, Jonathan Steen, Barry Wallace, Levi Briggs, Jackie Briggs, Clay Britton, and Courtney Pittman.
Ferrum, VA, November 18, 2021 — Faculty and staff members at Ferrum College are working together to restart the College’s composting program, which will eventually encompass a work study program and a course practicum for students.
Aladdin’s Jonathan Steen empties a bucket of raw food waste into the composter. This cycle’s batch will be ready to use at the end of December.
The masterminds behind the endeavor are Aladdin Campus Dining Food Services Director Levi Briggs and Ferrum’s Assistant Professor of Biology & Horticulture Clay Britton, who also manages the College’s hydroponics lettuce program. Aladdin, which provides meals on campus, purchases produce from the hydroponics program.
“Clay and I met a few times, mostly concerning the hydroponics program and Aladdin’s commitment to buy produce through that program,” explained Briggs. “During one of our discussions, we broached the subject of the composters. Clay wanted to find a way to get them running again. I thought it would be great for Dining Services to partner with the College to start something important, reducing landfill waste and maintaining sustainability.”
Several years ago, Ferrum College began a composting program; however, lack of time and resources caused the program to be discontinued.
Two large composters are located at the College’s Pole Barn near the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, where much of Ferrum’s recycling is stored. In early September, Briggs spent his personal time after work for about a week cleaning out the barn so that the composters could be operational again.
Aladdin’s staff is overseeing the composting process and has partnered with Elegant Woodworks’ local custom cabinet shops, which provides the sawdust used in the composters. Although the plans are still in the works, Briggs and Britton envision the compost being used at Titmus Agricultural Farm and around campus in flower beds, herb gardens, and more.
Learn more about Ferrum’s agricultural sciences program here.
L to R: Madison Cogle ’23 – 1st place, Ryan Gobble ’24 – finalist, and Laurynn Hackett ’23 – finalist.
11/17/2021
Ferrum College students commanded quite the presence when they took three of the top four places during the 14th Annual Collegiate Young Farmers Discussion Meet held on November 5 in Lynchburg, VA.
Ferrum College junior Madison Cogle ’23, from Lewis County, WV, won first place, which entitled her to a $500 scholarship from Southern Farm Life Insurance Company and Virginia Farm Bureau Federation (VFBF) Young Farmers. She will receive a trip to watch the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet at their annual convention in Atlanta, GA, in January 2022. She will also receive a travel package to attend February’s AFBF Young Farmers Collegiate Discussion Meet in Louisville, KY.
Cogle is majoring in agriculture science with emphases in equine studies and animal science. She stated that “the end goal is vet school.” Cogle is also Ferrum’s first-ever Beckham Presidential Scholarship recipient.
Ferrum College junior Lauren Hackett ’23 and sophomore Ryan Gobble ’24 were also named finalists. Gobble and Hackett each received $150 from VFBF. Hackett is majoring in agriculture with an emphasis in animal science, and Gobble is a secondary education major with an emphasis in agriculture education.
All three Ferrum College students are members of the Boone Honors Program, and officers in the Ag Club (Hackett is president, Gobble is vice president, and Cogle is secretary). Cogle is also a member of Franklin County Young Farmers.
“I was very surprised and not at all expecting to win, but I was going for the experience and the opportunity to connect and communicate with other students in agriculture- winning was just the cherry on top,” said Cogle. “I loved talking with so many other students that had very different perspectives within the field of agriculture. I also greatly appreciate the scholarship, and I am looking forward to the travel opportunities and the possibilities to connect with other young agriculturalists.”
This year’s meeting, which was sponsored by VFBF, included four topics: COVID-19 challenges, preventive approaches to farm safety, renewable agricultural practices, and how to best enhance Farm Bureau Young Farmers Program participation. The competitors were judged on discussion skills, understanding of the agricultural issues, and ability to build consensus.
Learn more about Ferrum’s ag science program here.
Learn more about the Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers here.
Members of Ferrum College’s Agriculture Club and Collegiate Young Farmers, with President Johns.
Ferrum College President Johns met with Virginia Western President Sandel about the transfer agreements earlier in March.
Ferrum College and Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) signed agreements of articulation today to facilitate the transfer of students from two VWCC programs to related bachelor’s degree natural science programs at Ferrum College. These include the new VWCC Associate degree in Agriculture, which will transfer to the Ferrum College Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences, with an emphasis in Animal Science, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture, or Equine Science. Additionally, the long-standing VWCC Western Integrated Environmental Studies program will now transfer to Ferrum College’s Environmental Science and Environmental Studies programs.
“We are proud to partner with Virginia Western Community College and provide a pathway to the bachelor degree for students in agriculture and environmental science. Both of our institutions are committed to preparing women and men who are ready to take the lead in building the future in these important industries,” said Ferrum College President David Johns. “Every student in Ferrum College’s natural sciences programs receives hands on experience in small classes guided by dynamic faculty. Virginia Western students are going to receive a first-class education because of this partnership.”
The agreements stipulate that VWCC will advise students interested in transferring to the Ferrum College Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, or Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies degree programs, to enroll in an approved course curriculum to earn an Associate degree in Agriculture or in Integrated Environmental Studies. In turn, Ferrum College guarantees acceptance of VWCC students who successfully earn the Associate degree in Agriculture or Integrated Environmental Studies. In addition, the agreements ensure that Ferrum College will transfer credit for all VWCC Integrated Environmental Studies and Agriculture courses completed successfully with a grade of “C” or above at the 100-200 level, excluding SDV College Skills Courses, even when the student has not completed the related associate degree.
Ferrum College Environmental Sciences Students.
“Ferrum College and Virginia Western Community College have been partnering for many years to offer students a smooth transition to a four-year institution,” said Ferrum College Provost Aimé Sposato. “The two new associate’s degrees from Virginia Western offer students a unique opportunity to further their education by enrolling in Agricultural Science or Environmental Science, which are two of our signature programs at Ferrum College.”
The agreements were signed at Virginia Western during a launch event for its new Agriculture Program, which featured guest speakers and supporters such as Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Bettina Ring and Delegate Terry L. Austin.
Cover photo by Virginia Western Community College.
