Agriculture, tech education at Weston benefits from grants
Donors have contributed a great deal to agriculture and technical classes and programs at the Weston School District.
An anonymous donor gave $14,000 to expand the tech ed department. Dollars purchased two Monoprice 3D printers, a Glowforge laser engraver, a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) plasma table, two Lincoln MP 210 welders, a Grizzly band saw and a Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter. The department is led by Tech Ed Teacher Andy Niemeyer.
The Weston Silver Eagle Foundation also gave several grants to the sheep program, which is run by Ag Teacher Randi Osborne. The money will be used for students to produce gelato from sheep milk.
Osborne and sophomore Addie DeMars are both certified for milk pasteurization and will help oversee the project. DeMars is the youngest person in the state to become certified.
Before gelato production can begin, the school needs to set up a screening lab to test milk for antibiotics. The equipment costs $4,850. The school already has other supplies such as a micro centrifuge, pipettes, micropipette tubes and other items.
The equipment purchase and filing process with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection need to be finished by Feb. 1, 2021.
Those who’d like to support the sheep project may contact Osborne at 608-986-2151 Ext. 217 or osborne@weston.k12.wi.us.
Other goals for the Silver Eagle Foundation include replacing stage curtains, installing a media screen and upgrading the sound system in the high school gym.
Donations for the foundation can be mailed to Weston Silver Eagle Foundation, Attn. Sue Louis, E2511 Highway S, Cazenovia, WI 53924. For more information, contact Sue Lewis at 608-986-2151 Ext. 120 or email louis@weston.k12.wi.us.
