COLOMBIA, SC (WRDW / WAGT) – Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests recently partnered with SC Governor’s School for Agriculture in John de la Howe to educate and guide South Carolina youth in the art of agriculture.
This partnership was achieved with the coordination and assistance of the USDA Forest Service Subregional Volunteer and Service Program Specialist, Jules DeFriese.
DeFriese arranged for a group of John de la Howe School administration staff, the SCA Trail Crew, USDA Forest Service staff and John de la Howe students to go into the forest together to give students more hands-on experience with trails work and how to redirect standing water.
Through this new partnership, DeFriese hopes to not only carry out essential projects on site, but also to train the next generation of conservation managers.
Rink Lint, supervisor at Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, said this will be a great opportunity for students in South Carolina interested in working with natural resources and agriculture.
The SC Governor’s School of Agriculture is not only a new concept with a unique curriculum, but is also being executed in a historic milestone.
“I look forward to meeting every young adult who comes to our campus as they break new ground in our forest. I imagine that our partnership will continue to grow as our school, and SCA shares many of the same goals and overall mission to conserve our natural resources for future generations, ”said Timothy Keown, president of JDLH.
To learn more about these organizations, you can visit the SC Governor’s School of Agriculture in John de la Howe, the Francis Marion & Sumter National Forests and the Student Conservation Association.
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