SUFFIELD — - Two town boards have given their support for spending $30,000 to help buy land next to the high school that would give the school's agriscience program land on which to grow crops and construct a large-animal facility.
The proposal to buy 10 acres from the Cannon family still needs the finance board's approval Tuesday before it can go to a town meeting for residents to vote. The boards of selectmen and education have signed off on the plan.
First Selectman Scott Lingenfelter said the board is recommending the funds come out of the capital expenditures fund for farmland preservation and open space.
"It's not our usual type of open space purchase," he said. But, not using the $30,000 in town funds toward the purchase could jeopardize the remaining $4 million of a $5 million grant for the agriscience program, he said. The rest of the total $325,000 purchase price for the land will come from the grant funds.
Harrison Griffin, the director of the agriscience program since 1981, said the horses and cows to be housed in the barn would be used in demonstrations and lessons for the classes.
"The land is really a marvelous plus for the town because instead of houses it will be preserved as open space," said Griffin on Thursday.
He said part of the $4 million left will go toward equipment, the large animal facility and building a bridge across wetlands on the property to be used by farm equipment and livestock.
"What better way to preserve farmland than to educate our youth how to care for the land and how to take care of animals," Lingenfelter said Thursday.
Lingenfelter said the Cannon land would also serve as a link to Bruce Park, where many students already participate in sports activities. Those using the park must currently take buses to the fields, but the bridge across wetlands would put the fields within walking distance.
"This is such an incredible opportunity for the town of Suffield," said Superintendent Jack Reynolds at a board of education meeting Tuesday.
The agriscience program teaches students about animal and plant science, and currently has 150 students from 10 towns including Suffield, Griffin said.
