Hailey Gouin – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – With the end of the school year approaching and summer coming up, the animals in the Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) agriculture barn still need to be taken care of when school is out.
In the cattle barn, there are currently three steers and one heifer, but the number of steers will go up to five by the end of the summer.
Both students and staff are involved in taking care of the animals. LRHS Agriculture Advisors Mckenzie Gorskey and Sophia Jaramillo-Vasconez come frequently to check on the animals and their living space.
Agriculture students continue to take care of their own animal projects over the summer and come twice a day to feed, water, and exercise the animals.
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Both the students and advisers are very thorough and involved in the animals’ lives for hands-on experiences, fair project documentation, and passion.
Jaramillo-Vasconez said that the most challenging part about taking care of the animals during the summer is the heat.
“While we have fans running for our animals and freshwater access 24/7, the heat can be extreme over the summer. That being said- our animals know how to cool off by staying in the shade and drinking water. Almost every day students are out there, and they will also be hosing off their animals to cool them down,” said Jaramillo-Vasconez.