Students attending a Model Farm Field Day in Orangeburg County. Photo provided.
Rising high school juniors and seniors who have a passion for agriculture have an alternative option for high school. The South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe in McCormick is seeking applications for their 2024/2025 school year.
The school is the only state-funded, public, residential high school devoted to agriculture in America. First accepting students in 2020, the school joins two other Governor’s Schools in SC, Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville and Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics in Hartsville.
The iconic dairy barn at John de la Howe.
The John de la Howe campus is an expansive 13,110 acres of pasture and woodland on the banks of Strom Thurmond Lake. In 1797, Dr. John De La How, a physician from France who lived in the back country of South Carolina, left the land in his will to be used specifically to teach children about agriculture. The property was also designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1976 by the Department of Interior. The property has been used for different things over the years, but was brought back to its initial purpose in 2019, when the Governor’s School opened. The first class graduated in May 2022.
Students learning about electrical wiring in ag mechanics and technology class. Photo provided.
Currently the school enrolls around 80 students from all over SC, as well as a few students from NC, GA and FL. The school is allowed to accept 10% of students from surrounding states.
Students take core classes, just like regular high school, but core classes at the Governor’s School are taught at the honors level. College credits can also be earned through a dual credit opportunity with Piedmont Technical College.
“Our students can potentially complete high school with one year of college in hand,” says Tony Baughman, who has been Public Information Officer and Archivist for the school for three years.
Students competing in a tractor-driving meet at Piedmont Technical College. Photo provided.
Every student chooses one of four pathways of agricultural study: Environmental and Natural Resource Management, Horticulture, Plant and Animal Systems, or Agriculture Mechanics and Technology.
Students helping to install new water lines at the campus greenhouse. Photo provided.
Past students have gone on to pursue advanced learning or a career in agriculture equipment sales, international finance, pre-veterinary medicine, agricultural artificial insemination, and agricultural communications.
Three students serving as interns for RFD-TV coverage of the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Photo provided.
All of the students enrolled in the Governor’s school are active FFA and 4H members. They compete in livestock shows and competitions and participate in supervised agricultural experiences.
Students riding into the arena at the Howe-lloween Festival. Photo provided.
Students with an interest in horses can compete in equine competitions, and can even board their own horse at the school. There are shotgun and bass fishing teams, as well as a field trial team complete with the school’s own team of competitive hunting dogs.
Student athletes can participate in outdoor recreation electives or play baseball, basketball or football at partnering McCormick High.
The school is proud of its success thus far. “Both of the individuals chosen to be South Carolina Farm Bureau Youth Ambassadors are from our school this year,” says Baughman.
Students riding the beaches of Myrtle Beach during a recent equine camp. Photo provided.
The John de la Howe campus also has an education center that provides agricultural education opportunities and summer programs for both adults and children. Day-long camps include fishing, wildlife identification, horticulture management, equine activities and outdoor recreation. There are also multi-day camps for experienced riders, and an Aggie Adventure camp for rising 8th and 9th graders to experience the four agricultural education paths the school offers, while also enjoying canoeing, a ropes course, tractor driving, beekeeping, and aquaponics.
Applications for Governor’s School at John de la Howe and more information about educational camps and opportunities can be found at delahowe.sc.gov.
School field trips are also available. For information email Kinsley.miller@delahowe.sc.gov. The campus is located at 192 Gettys Road in McCormick.
