DOTHAN, AL (WDNews) — As part of the WIREGRASS Peanut Project, which is now in its third year, high school students throughout the Wiregrass will get their hands dirty this week by planting peanut seeds.
The program, which was started by HudsonAlpha, aims to help students produce peanut cultivars that are resistant to disease and drought while providing them with practical experience in agricultural research. “With Innovative Regional Experience Growing Real Advancements through Student Scientists” is what WIREGRASS stands for.
Ariton High School, Ashford High School, Dothan High School, Carver 9th Grade Academy, Cottonwood High School, Slocomb High School, and Houston Academy are the seven schools that will participate in the fall semester. The project will be joined in the spring by Enterprise High School, Headland High School, Rehobeth High School, and Wicksburg High School.
DNA extraction, genome sequencing data analysis, and planting and growth observations are all covered in the curriculum. The program emphasizes the value of peanuts, a commodity essential to the economy and culture of the Wiregrass region, by fusing classroom instruction with practical science.
Emmanuel Fields, a senior at Slocomb High School, expressed his excitement about participating in the WIREGRASS Peanut Project this year. Other students have told me how wonderful the experience has been, and I am eager to get started.
The program is led by Vice President of Educational Outreach Kelly East and HudsonAlpha faculty investigator Josh Clevenger, Ph.D., who collaborate with educators and students to develop the next generation of agricultural leaders.
