MONTICELLO, Miss. – December 17, 2025 – The Lawrence County Technology and Career Center agriculture program is designed to give students practical skills and a clearer view of careers tied to agriculture — from welding and fabrication to plant science and technology-driven work.
Agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) adviser Carla Lawrence said the program teaches the importance of agriculture while also pushing students to see the field beyond the farm.
“Ag is the backbone of America,” Lawrence said.
The program’s hands-on training received a boost through an EquipMS school grant aimed at improving the ag shop and expanding what students can learn. Established in 2023 through House Bill 588, EquipMS helps Mississippi districts modernize high school programs in priority industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy, health care, information technology, and construction.
Derek Huffman, now the agriculture teacher at Florence High School, taught at the Lawrence County Technology and Career Center from 2022 to 2025. He applied for the grant to replace welding booths and equipment that had become outdated.
The grant funded new welding booths, welding tables and welding machines, along with a laser engraver and other equipment needed for instruction and student projects.
Lawrence County Technology and Career Center Director Dr. Jeff Quin said the upgrades improved both the learning environment and the tools students use to build workforce-ready skills.
“The school grant provided funding to improve shop conditions and purchase new equipment, enhancing students’ ability to develop skills essential for their future career goals,” Quin said.
Students said the improvements show up in the quality of their work and the confidence they gain in the shop. Zach Seiler, an 11th-grader who has been in the program since his freshman year, said projects are more precise with the updated setup.
“I can’t afford a welding machine, and coming out here and getting that opportunity to learn the machinery — and the job opportunities, too — a lot of jobs I didn’t know about, it shows what this program can really do for us,” Seiler said.
What stands out most, he said, is watching classmates grow — seeing the difference between who they were on day one and who they are now.
“It’s good to see people make real progress in their lives from something like this.”
Several students connected the program directly to leadership growth. Hunter Smith joined agriculture classes as a freshman, later became chapter president, ran for state office, and was selected by a nominating committee as FFA state reporter for the 2025-2026 school year.
The hands-on work matters for his own plans, too. Smith said he wants to become an agriculture teacher.
“It’s extremely helpful. I can use what I learn here and teach other students how to weld and use other equipment in the industry,” he said.
Local industry partners and businesses help strengthen the program through grants and donations, including support from Georgia-Pacific and other community businesses.
At the end of the day, the goal is to give students skills they can carry into adulthood and a clearer picture of what agriculture can be, from traditional farm work to technology-driven jobs using new tools like drones.
“We still teach students the valuable importance of agriculture,” Lawrence said, “but agriculture is more than just farming.”
She said students leave the program with practical abilities they can use on their own land or turn into income — fixing equipment, repairing fences and buildings, or picking up welding as a side job or full-time work. That, she said, is the heart of career and technical education: not only learning a skill, but being able to make a living with it.
About AccelerateMS
AccelerateMS supports the people and businesses of Mississippi by creating and implementing workforce strategies that link individuals to transformative, high-paying careers. Through strong partnerships and effective grants management, the organization promotes sustained individual, community, and statewide economic growth.