10/13/2026
🐂 Taking Learning Beyond the Four Walls! 🐄💙💛
On October 5th, Mrs. Lester’s Animal Science I & II and Plant Science I & II students loaded up and headed to the Joplin Regional Stockyards, one of the nation’s largest livestock auction facilities!
Students had the opportunity to tour the stockyards, watch a live cattle sale, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how such a large livestock operation functions and thrives!
Our students asked some fantastic, in-depth questions covering everything from animal welfare practices and livestock handling procedures to the record number of cattle sold at the facility! They gained valuable insight into the livestock industry, agricultural economics, and the importance of animal care throughout the marketing process.
And let me tell you, a few of our students got SO into the auction that they practically had to sit on their hands to keep from bidding! 😂🐂
A huge THANK YOU to Mark for such a warm welcome and for taking the time to share this incredible facility and industry with our students! We truly appreciate the opportunity to learn from those working firsthand in agriculture!
Experiences like these are exactly why we believe in taking education beyond the four walls of the classroom and into the real world! There’s something special about seeing what we discuss in class happening right in front of you, asking industry professionals questions, and discovering firsthand the opportunities agriculture has to offer.
💙💛 Learning by Doing. Living to Serve. That’s Agricultural Education and FFA!
