Last week, over 200 seventh-grade and 15 eighth-grade ag students from Hamilton Heights Middle School (HHMS) enjoyed an immersive experience at Beck’s Hybrids in Atlanta.
Beck’s corporate headquarters, located in Atlanta about two miles from the middle school, offered students a behind-the-scenes look at the family-owned and operated company. The primary focus of this trip was for students to learn about the vast array of career possibilities that exist at Beck’s Hybrids.
Students learned about the company’s history, its deep roots in the community, and toured its Atlanta operations. Students were able to see some of the special farm equipment used to plant test crops and venture through the greenhouses to learn about cross pollination. In addition, students spent time in the quality assurance seed lab where testing of germination for corn, soybeans, and wheat under various conditions takes place. The lab allows for hands-on interaction with products to understand better what farmers experience in the field.
HHMS seventh graders touring a greenhouse at Beck’s Hybrids in Atlanta to learn more about cross pollination as part of a day-long, interactive career exploration and learning experience at the company. (Photo provided)
“This was not a one-off field trip,” explained Connor James, Business and Preparing for Colleges and Careers Teacher. “This is the start of a long term (three-plus years) agreement with Beck’s Hybrids as part of our “Reaching New Heights” initiative designed to provide inclusive learning experiences for ALL students. We truly believe exposure to real-world industry and careers will foster student interest and increase engagement.”
“The visit proved to be a powerful learning experience for the vast majority of our students,” added James. “It was truly a special day.”
James continued, “On behalf of HHMS and all the students who attended this immersive experience, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Jason Beck for helping to lead this effort within the organization and who helped coordinate the visit. Special thanks to Sonny Beck and Scott Beck for their interest and generosity in opening their doors to our students. We also appreciate the time provided by the best tour guides in all the land, Paul Compton, Scott McCorkle, Bryan Will, and Toby Ripberger. They did a tremendous job guiding our students around the grounds. We also want to thank the entire Beck’s Hybrids team for the incredible experience they provided these students.”
“Lastly,” James said, “these trips would not be possible without our teachers, support staff, and bus drivers. Thank you to ALL who made this day possible. I’m convinced it will have an impact beyond what we are able to imagine.”