School barn project begins

For the last few years, Moorcroft High School (MHS) agriculture teacher and FFA counselor Hugh Jenkins has been promoting the benefits of a barn on school property for urban kids without access to rural land to have a place to raise animals for fair or 4-H.

In October, a big step toward this realization came with the approval from the Crook County School District #1 Board of Trustees of a bid from Sundance based Four Aces Fabrication to build an insulated steel barn southeast of MHS for $81,585.

Dirt work, electrical, water lines, concrete, meter fees and any other miscellaneous building expenses have been authorized not to exceed another $40,000. Jenkins assured the board that many local businesses have committed labor and materials to this project.

Advocating this effort, Principal Kirby Baier said, “Hugh and the board have worked really hard to make this happen for Moorcroft and I think it’s going to be huge for our ag kids… and a huge advancement for Moorcroft.”

Baier reports that the dirt work has not yet begun, but he hopes to see a quick completion.

“If we have an open winter, I’m hoping it will be done before spring,” he says.