Sauk Prairie School District breaks ground on new greenhouse

The Sauk Prairie School District broke ground on its new greenhouse on Friday, August 12th.  The new Jeff Hicken Horticultural Learning Center will serve as a classroom and greenhouse as part of Sauk Prairie’s agricultural education program.  It is named in honor of Jeff Hicken, a former Ag Science teacher and Sauk Prairie School Board member who served as the State FFA Advisor and Agricultural Education leader for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  Jeff Hicken passed away in June of 2021. The greenhouse is funded by a Wisconsin Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and by corporate and individual donors who contributed to a fundraising campaign coordinated by the Sauk Prairie FFA Alumni organization.  In December 2021, the Sauk Prairie School District received a $2.44 million Workforce Innovation Grant to support programs in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and medical careers.   “This is an exciting day for Sauk Prairie,” commented Superintendent Jeff Wright.  “We are grateful for the generous support of the State of Wisconsin, our FFA Alumni, and so many generous supporters of Ag Education in our community.” Speakers at the groundbreaking event included Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of the WEDC; BJ Chrisler, fundraising chair; Sherri Hicken, wife of Jeff Hicken; Troy Talford, SPHS Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor, and Superintendent Jeff Wright.