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Governor’s School of Agriculture reports enrollment growth, $17 million state award and $5 million meat processing grant
Summary
School officials updated council on student growth, campus renovations, and a newly funded meat processing facility; presenters said the project will support hands‑on education and regional agricultural economies.
Scott Mims, representing the Governor’s School of Agriculture at the John de la Howe campus, told McCormick County Council the program has grown since 2019 and is expanding facilities and workforce training.
Mims said the school opened with 32 students in 2020 and is enrolling a new class of 89 students this August, with an internal target to reach about 125 students without initiating a larger dorm construction phase. "As of right now, we are coming in with 89 students," Mims said, and added the campus currently employs 51 full-time and 45 part-time staff and expects to hire about 10 more.
He described a slate of capital projects: Delisle Hall is undergoing an $8.7 million renovation that will include a 270-person auditorium the public may use, and site work for parking and access remains pending funding. Mims also said the legislature awarded the school $17 million in the upcoming state budget for future projects.
On workforce and local industry, Mims announced, "We did get funded, $5,000,000 for a meat processing facility." He called the meat lab a hands-on teaching opportunity that will allow students to work with local livestock and help the region retain processing dollars that currently go out of state. Mims said the lab could help the campus reach a goal of processing roughly 50 heads of cattle or pigs per week and would support both student training and area farmers.
Several council members and attendees praised the school's turnaround and rising academic results; the transcript records council members noting a 98th percentile report card ranking back-to-back years and national accreditation (cognia) referenced by staff.
Why it matters: The state's funding and campus investments aim to expand vocational training, increase local processing capacity, and attract enrollment and economic activity to McCormick County.
What’s next: Mims said the meat lab is moving toward design and infrastructure work; when design is ready, the school plans a town hall at the campus to answer questions and solicit community input.
