YORK – The site for York Public Schools’ new agri-science center holds endless possibilities for the future.

The location is a nearly two-acre plot which has been owned for many years by Corteva. It is located directly north of the York County Roads Department property (just northeast of the York County Fairgrounds and the York Soccer Complex).

Recently, the York Schools Foundation signed a purchase agreement with Corteva to take ownership of the property. Sally Ruben from the York Public Schools Foundation said closing will take place on Nov. 19.

This location will house the school’s future agricultural education site – as the animal lab at the high school has been outgrown and this new property lends itself to offering many forms of educational opportunities.

This writer and Ruben toured the site with Cindi Nickel, realty broker with NHS Commercial, Monday morning, to talk about the potential of the property as it pertains to this new project.

The Foundation operates within itself, as far as funding. The Foundation will be purchasing the property with existing funds and donations from the public. The improvements made to the property will be financed in the same way – not with taxpayer dollars.

Ruben said they are seeking to raise about $2 million – she said they already have around $350,000 in donations earmarked for this project.

“We looked at constructing a brand new building on the high school campus – it would have cost $3 million and wouldn’t have been nearly big enough,” Ruben said. “Then we started looking at this Corteva property and it is just perfect.”

As explained by Ruben, this new space will be utilized for classrooms, meetings, space for veterinary/animal science with pens/facilities for large and small animals. It would include a learning center for animal handling, husbandry and grooming. It is also proposed the center would have space for learning about food science, natural resources, agronomy, biotechnology, plant science, meat science and wildlife management. It could also be the location of test plots, range and soil education, as well as a place to educate students about the maintenance of and careers within irrigation mechanics.

“This space will allow YPS to better accommodate class sizes by providing individualized, enhanced hands-on learning experiences,” Ruben said. “It will be able to host large groups of community members for learning opportunities within the ag industry and the center will provide a facility for eligible students to utilize a space to raise, train and show livestock animals at our county fair. This will provide a farm to fork experience for the urban population of York by providing them the agricultural literacy skills they need. The center will allow York High School to incorporate new, ever-changing technology within agriculture. It will strengthen community partnerships by providing more opportunities.”

“This addition to the school system is great,” Nickel said. “And this will allow even more city kids to have hands-on educational experiences and opportunities.”

“It really does,” Ruben said. “It will give even more kids – they have over 200 in ag education now – opportunities to know what careers in agriculture are out there.”

The property includes an ample amount of outdoor space as well as an office building (which can be converted to classrooms) and two very large buildings.

Nickel said the office building is already wired for IT and has large screens, projectors, desks, chairs – all of it stays. The buildings have concrete floors, all facilities have working and well-maintained fire suppression systems, heating and air conditioning. All the buildings have new roofs and gutters, the office building has brand new windows. The large overhead doors in the two big outbuildings have been well-maintained and are in great working order.

Another exciting aspect of this project, Ruben and Nickel said, is how students in construction, welding and other similar types of high school classes will be able to help with the necessary modifications – adding further to the educational value of this project.

There are already bathrooms in the buildings, which are fully up to code, and there are brand new LED lights in the largest building. There is even a walk-in cooler in the biggest structure.

“This property has been so well maintained by Corteva and the school will be receiving high quality real estate for this important educational site,” Nickel said.

The office building also has two built-in tornado shelter spaces, Nickel pointed out.

“If someone would like to help us reach our goal of $2 million to make this exciting project a reality, please send your donation to YPS Foundation, 1715 North Delaware Avenue, York, NE 68467. Donations of $1,000 or more will be acknowledged at the Agri-Science Center site upon project completion,” Ruben added.

She said checks should be made payable to the YPS Foundation.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

“This center will spark career aspirations in students who will keep their zipcode as 68467. We hope many will want to join us in making this come about,” Ruben said. “Jason (Hirschfeld, ag educator at YPS) and I were talking about the many ways this property can be utilized to teach kids and there are a lot of ideas. Really, the benefits and the value and the possibilities are just endless.”