Harmony Middle School breaks ground on small barn for student agricultural programs

Kendall Brown, the agriculture teacher at Harmony Middle School and the 2027 Teacher of the Year, opened the school’s ceremonial groundbreaking for a new small barn, saying the facility will let students raise and show animals at the Osceola County Fair.

Brown said the barn will allow students who do not have animals at home to gain hands-on experience with livestock. "We are so excited for the making of this barn because it gives students who don't have this opportunity at home to have a hands-on learning experience with animals outside," he said.

Brown invited FFA students present to share their enthusiasm for the project and described the barn as an educational resource tied to the school’s agricultural program. He thanked "our county leaders, our district leaders, and just anybody who's believed in this crazy idea that's now become a reality."

He specifically thanked Ricky Booth, identified in the transcript as a county commissioner, for advocating and pushing the project to become a reality. "One last big thank you to Mr. Ricky Booth, the county commissioner, for advocating and pushing this project to become a reality," Brown said.

The ceremonial remarks in the transcript did not include details on the barn’s size, construction timeline, funding sources or formal approvals; those details were not specified. No motions or votes were recorded in the provided remarks.

The ceremony signals a new hands-on learning resource for Harmony Middle School students and a connection to the Osceola County Fair; further logistical and funding details were not specified in the transcript.