(KLZA)-- Governor Pete Ricketts Ag Week tour of Nebraska brought him to Auburn High School Thursday. 

The Governor toured areas of the school aided by grant funds to help students expand their education. Ricketts visited the newly completed greenhouse, the family and consumer science classroom updated with new appliances through a grant and the Industrial Technology shop featuring a new plasma cutter prior to lunch and a question and answer session with students.

FFA students from Auburn, Johnson-Brock and HTRS schools met with the Governor.  Ricketts invited the students to stay in Nebraska, or return following graduation from college, he noted the large number of opportunities in the agricultural fields in the future with the need to double the amount of food produced for the world by 2050. 

Following the luncheon, Governor Ricketts said he was happy with what he was seeing at the Auburn School, noting how career vocational classes are being brought back in to expose kids to the great variety of jobs that will be available in the future. 

Ashton Bohling is the Auburn FFA instructor. Since the program was re-started three years ago she said major steps forward have occurred.
That includes a new plasma cutter in the shop area and a new greenhouse completed in January.  Grant funds helped pay for both. 

Students are also using an aquaponics system, which has fish in the bottom, with the water pumped up to plants providing nutrients and filters the water. 

The greenhouse is used to raise lettuce, radishes and carrots, which are donated to the school cafeteria.  Vegetable and flowers will also be grown for the school landscaping and for a spring plant sale.  

Principal Vernon Golladay led the tour and Superintendent Kevin Reiman welcomed the Governor.