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Getting their hands dirty for a good cause

Michelle Balleck

Agricultural construction students at Moffat County High School are working on a project they think will make a difference in their community.

They are building a storage shed to house lawn equipment at Sunset Meadows senior housing complex on Ledford Street.

“We’re supplying the materials, and they’re supplying the labor,” said Moffat County Housing Authority Maintenance Director John Furman. “It’s going to give us some much-needed storage for lawn equipment and parts.”



The 10-foot-by-10-foot structure has a lean-to design and overhangs on two sides. It will have two hinged doors and will store items that otherwise are being kept in inappropriate places.

“We’re actually storing some things in the stairwell that shouldn’t be there,” Furman said. “We can get the snow blower out of the stairwell.”



The students, who have the class during second hour, have been working on the project for two weeks. Their teacher, John Haddan, said the project will be done soon and delivered, via flatbed trailer, to its future location, behind Sunset Meadows II.

The materials cost $1,000, Furman said. He estimated a similar project through a company would cost about $1,500.

“We just thought it’d be a good way to tie our ag construction class with community service,” Haddan said.

The students learn carpentry, concrete, electric wiring and plumbing skills. As the FFA adviser, Haddan is hoping to include some more service projects in the future. This spring, for instance, his horticulture class hopes to help senior citizens get a garden started at Sunset Meadows.

“It’s different than what we usually do,” senior construction student Jesse Haskins said.

He likes the class because it teaches him real-world skills and gets him out of the traditional classroom setting. Senior Brent Chamberlain agrees.

“It gives you all the skills to build sheds and stuff you wouldn’t normally learn in school,” he said.

Both also are excited to be helping area senior citizens and the chance to see their work benefit the community.

The students made a residential shed earlier and have another one on their project list. They’ve also done several projects at the fairgrounds and hope to pour concrete there soon.

“It’s just a good hands-on class,” Haddan said. “And it’s good community service, too.”

Michelle Perry can be reached at 824-7031 or mperry@craigdailypress.com.


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