Day 6 was packed with learning, sustainability, and an unexpected adventure!
Our first stop was Lynch Dairy Farm, where we learned about dairy production and sustainable farming practices. The farm milks 70 British Friesian dairy cows using a single robotic milking system. The Friesian cows are bred to beef sires, and the calves are sold to other farmers to be raised for meat. We also learned how spring calving aligns milk production with peak grass growth, allowing the cows to benefit from the most nutrient-rich forage throughout the grazing season in Ireland.
Next, we visited the headquarters of Grow It Yourself (GIY), located on the beautiful Curraghmore Estate. The site features a 13-acre organic garden dedicated to promoting sustainable food production, education, and community engagement.
To top off an already incredible day, our bus driver surprised us by volunteering to take the group to the coast to see the Irish Sea before returning to the hotel. It wasn't on the itinerary, but it quickly became one of the highlights of the day!🌱🐄🌊
☘️ Day 5 of Ag in Ireland!
Day 4 was our first day in the beautiful area of Kilkenny, located in the southeast part of Ireland! Known as Ireland’s “Medieval City,” Kilkenny is famous for its rich history, charming narrow streets, colorful storefronts, and well-preserved historic buildings.
There was a lot of excitement among the group today as we began the STEM portion of our tour, the agricultural and farming experiences many of our students had been eagerly anticipating. After spending the first few days exploring Ireland’s history and culture, it was exciting to start learning directly from Irish producers and seeing agriculture in action.
We began the day with a tour of Highbank Orchards. While they are best known for producing apple cider vinegar, they also create a wide variety of other products, including chutneys, sparkling apple cider, apple syrup, apple jams, and more. In total, they produce 16 different apple-based products, showcasing the many ways they add value to their orchard crop.
Later, we visited the Brennan Family Farm. The farm specializes in pedigree beef cattle and sheep production. Their sheep enterprise focuses on a ewe breeding herd, while their pedigree Limousin cattle operation raises and markets breeding heifers and bulls. It was a great opportunity for our students to learn about livestock production in Ireland and compare it to agricultural practices back home.
It provided valuable insight into Irish agriculture, from specialty food production to livestock genetics and breeding programs. The students asked great questions and enjoyed seeing firsthand how Irish farmers adapt to their environment, markets, and traditions. We are grateful to our hosts for sharing their knowledge and experiences and look forward to continuing our agricultural journey through Ireland! ☘️🚜🐑🐂🌍🇮🇪
☘️ Day 3 of Ag in Ireland!
Today we continued exploring the rich history and culture of Dublin. Our group visited the stunning St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of Ireland’s most recognizable landmarks, and toured EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, where we learned about the journeys, contributions, and influence of Irish emigrants across the globe.
We also visited the historic Papal Cross and spent time in Phoenix Park, one of the largest enclosed public parks in Europe. The beautiful scenery, historic sites, and fascinating stories gave us a deeper appreciation for Ireland’s heritage and traditions.
To wrap up the day, the students participated in an Irish Folklore Evening, where they experienced traditional Irish music, storytelling, and dance. It was a memorable way to experience Ireland’s vibrant culture firsthand! ☘️🌍🎶💃🕺🇮🇪
We arrived in Ireland at 8:30 a.m. and hit the ground running with a walking tour of Dublin!
Along the way, we visited the Houses of the Oireachtas, strolled through St Stephen's Green, explored the shops and atmosphere of Grafton Street, and crossed the iconic Ha'penny Bridge.
We are also fortunate to be traveling with our Irish bus driver, Colum, and our English tour guide, Gail. Their knowledge, stories, humor, and friendly banter keep every bus ride entertaining and make the journey between destinations just as enjoyable as the sights themselves!
It was a great way to begin our Irish adventure, taking in the history, culture, and sights of Dublin. More exciting experiences to come—stay tuned! ☘️🌍✈️🚜🐄
Several students took their very first flight, and every student is embarking on their first international travel experience. This is an exciting milestone and an incredible opportunity to learn, explore, and experience agriculture on a global scale.
We can’t wait to share our adventures with you. Stay tuned for travel updates and photos over the next day or two! 🌍🌱🐄🚜
Mr. Reinhart shared, “We are excited to have Katie’s energy and her enthusiasm for supporting Central! Students have already expressed excitement about Football Cheerleading this Fall!”
Katie is a 2008 graduate of Central. She and her husband Marcus are both actively involved at Central, and all five of their children are Central students! Katie noted, “I am very passionate about Central and promoting school spirit. I look forward to supporting our athletic programs in this role!!”
We are proud to call Central home and look forward to welcoming current and future Warriors to our school community! ❤️🤍
Keep your eye out for our new billboards along Hwy 13. Thank you to Think Custom for your help on this project!
Apply online at https://www.central.k12.ia.us/page/join-our-team
Please join us in congratulating Jordan Everitt on an incredible achievement!
Jordan has not only earned approval for his American FFA Degree, the highest degree bestowed by the National FFA Organization, but has also been selected by the Iowa FFA Association to represent the great state of Iowa in the prestigious American Star in Agribusiness competition.
The American Star Awards recognize the very best of the best in FFA. These outstanding members have distinguished themselves through exceptional leadership, involvement, community service, academic achievement, and success in their supervised agricultural experiences. The American Star in Agribusiness is awarded to the FFA member with the nation's top non-production agribusiness supervised agricultural experience.
Being selected as Iowa's representative is a tremendous honor and a testament to Jordan's hard work, dedication, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to agricultural education.
Congratulations, Jordan! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and wish you the very best as you compete at the national level with your SAE!
Thank you for your patience and support. We are excited to share this year's yearbook with you soon!
Each year, we are proud to recognize an outstanding individual as our Homecoming Grand Marshal. This honor is given to someone who has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our school and community through their service, dedication, leadership, and positive influence.
We invite you to submit nominations for individuals you believe embody the spirit of our school. Nominees may be alumni, community members, current or former staff, or supporters whose contributions, commitment, and school pride have helped strengthen our community and leave a lasting legacy.
Nominate someone by July 13th using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kP-Fu-maCAI9I43Zc8vIu9Cx8AwbN4piAmefO0qC8JE/viewform?edit_requested=true
Best of luck to our team as they showcase their knowledge, skills, and hard work.
A special thank you to Janis and Jane at Elkader Floral Shop for helping us prepare for the team event. We appreciate your support, and expertise!
Central varsity softball against Clayton Ridge will play tomorrow night at 5pm.
WarEagle varsity baseball against Postville make up game is still being determined.
Softball and baseball are in full swing and both the Central softball game and the WarEagles baseball game on Monday are in Elkader! Check out this week's events!
