Marana Middle School agricultural science class receives grant to expand hands

Students at Marana Middle School are getting real-world experience through an agricultural science program.

The program, being led by Debbie Knickerbocker for a third year, serves about 150 students per semester in a non-traditional classroom setting where they care for dozens of animals, including pigs, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, sheep, and horses.

"You get to work with the animals, you get to build stuff, you get to hang out, and you get to help around with this whole area and make sure everything's nice," eighth grader Jace Lewis said.

Students taking the class are also members of the school's Future Farmers of America chapter.

This opportunity is only offered at Marana Middle School and Marana High School within the district. While career and technical education classes are common