Igniting Passion: Hayden School District Builds On Ag Heritage

The Hayden School District is leading a renaissance in agricultural education (ag. ed.).

Driving that work are students under the leadership of educator Eric Wellman, who is the head of the district’s ag. ed. program. 

Wellman’s family has lived on a ranch between Craig and Meeker, where they have raised sheep and cattle, for five generations. Wellman noted that his family’s homestead will be honored later this month with the designation of “centennial ranch” at the State Fair.

“I really developed a passion for education and for agriculture,” said Wellman. “My father was an agriculture teacher before I was born.” 

Wellman attended Northeastern Junior College and Colorado State University before spending ten years as an agricultural education teacher in North Park. When the Hayden and Soroco School Districts were awarded the Response, Innovation, and Student Equity Education (RISE) grant, he returned to the Yampa Valley in 2021 to build Hayden’s agricultural education program. 

Despite the deep agrarian roots of the community that surrounds the district, there had only been a school-based ag. ed. program in the two years following World War II. 

“Here it is, again, here in Hayden,” Wellman exclaimed. “It’s always been an agricultural community.” 

He credits the students for driving the reinvigoration of the program, as then Superintendent Christy Sinner sat in on a speech class where students spoke to the necessity of its reintroduction. 

Sinner recalled the raw power behind the speeches that the students gave

“We went full force from there,” said Sinner. “They were very persuasive and made really wonderful points during their presentations.”

His passion and goals for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program is centered on the agriculture economy of the community and the strong presence of 4-H programs within the area.  

The district would develop lab spaces for agricultural pathways in animal science, food products and processing, natural resources, power structures, and plant science. The district is also integrating veterinary science in the fall of 2024. 

The FFA program creates strong characteristics in students through their mission of fostering premier leadership, personal growth and career success in participants. Wellman hopes that the development of specific skills, such as active leadership and public speaking, will make a difference in communities from the local to international level.  

“I want to give them those career ready skills with an understanding and appreciation of agriculture,” said Wellman. “That includes understanding how our whole food distribution system works from field to cart.”

That awareness surrounding the various parts of the food system includes environmental, manufacturing, and consumption aspects. The “fragile” nature of the food system, in his opinion, necessitates an empowering, local approach to innovations to bolster it. 

The Hayden FFA program includes students from both agricultural and non-agricultural backgrounds. Wellman’s approach for all students is to find a theme that will drive them throughout the program, with an eye towards the development of “tools that build self-confidence towards the goal of serving others”.

The Hayden FFA program hosts many community-centered events including a career-expo day, where businesses, industry professionals, and organizations come into the district to expose the students to job pathways. Additionally, the group organizes civil push-out programs, including a Veterans’ Day program. This year will also feature Hayden hosting a tailgate for Routt County Ag. Ed. at the Soroco/Hayden football game. The event, which is planned and led by students, highlights locally-grown food products from the Yampa Valley that are made in the Hayden food products lab. 

The Hayden School District’s chapter officer team currently consists of President JD Case, Vice President Peyton Baker, Secretary Triston Day, Treasurer Makyla Harris, Reporter Kasey Singer, Sentinel Jesse Vannoy, Parliamentarian Kim Gray, and Executive Committee Member Wyatt Powell. 

The Hayden program is part of a FFA district that stretches throughout northwest Colorado. Several times a year, the students from the region meet to collaborate and learn together. Additionally, Hayden FFA members attend leadership conferences throughout the state. Wellman explained that the relationship between Hayden, Moffat County, and Soroco chapters is strong and leads to a lot of support for the students of the other districts.   

Wellman noted that for the last two years, the Hayden chapter has been recognized at the national level as one of the top ten in Colorado.

“I want students that can be versatile and be global citizens and engage wherever they go,” he closed.

In August, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about Routt County organizations and educators that promote the importance of our local ranching and agriculture heritage.

Read Part One – 4H Exchange Program

This series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote adventure and the active Steamboat lifestyle! You can also support our local Ag Producers and Programs simply by making a request on the Steamboat Locals Choice for Music. For every song request made in the month of August, The Steamboat Group will donate $2 to Community Ag Alliance, up to $500 total!