Lawton Public Schools unveils new ag mechanics shop at Life Ready Center

From Cyrus Hall McCormick to Temple Grandin, innovators of the agricultural world come in unexpected places. The Life Ready Center included.

Lawton Public Schools, along with other entities, unveiled the new Ag Mechanic Shop, 702 NW Homestead Drive, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday.

Superintendent Kevin Hime said the project has been in the works for about four years.

“When I took this job four years ago, I realized we didn’t have an Ag Mech shop,” Hime said. “It’s kind of like, ‘OK, why don’t we have one, what do we [have] to do to get it?’ I think part of the reason we didn’t have one is [because] you have to do everything in threes. [To do that,] it’s gonna be a difficult trade. So coming up with a way to do it in one made it possible.”

Hime said they chose the Life Ready Center for the location because the shop goes with the mission of the school.

“We already have a bus system where we bus kids from all three schools to this building,” Hime said. “So it makes it very easy for us to build it here and create that central location where all students have access to it.”

Hime said the new ag building is part of the Life Ready Center’s continued growth.

“Most schools have an ag (mechanical) shop,” Hime said. “We didn’t have one for Lawton. We either had to build three or one, and the money to build three is hard to come by. So, we came up with the money thanks to a big donation from the McMahon Foundation. We built one ag mechanic shop, we bring the kids to it so all three high schools get to use it. Every student at Lawton Public Schools has access to this building.”

Even though it’s an “Ag Mech Shop,” Hime said it can be used for everyone.

“First and foremost, this building should help build our ag program,” Hime said. “But we don’t want to limit it just to say ‘You’ve got to be in ag to use the building.’ They’re going to have the run of the building, but there’s gonna be times when other groups might need it. It should create opportunities for a lot of students.”

Hime said the shop will offer students a way to gain skills not offered at a career tech.

“The current tech only has so many seats, and there’s a lot of students who can’t get into welding,” Hime said. “Our goal is to work with them and make it where we can use this facility to get the same license and certification that the career tech. We want to make sure every student gets every opportunity possible.”

The best part? The curriculum at the shop is free.

“We’re not charging,” Hime said. “It’s kind of like we have free college over here. This will be free career tech.”

Lynn Cordes, executive director of Communications for LPS, said some of the programs offered include intro to agriscience, intro to ag power & technology and agricultural structures.

Cody Pearce, agricultural education instructor for LPS, said the shop has been anticipated since he came to the team a couple years ago.

“It’s been something we’ve been looking forward to,” Pearce said. “It’s going to create opportunity and generate interest among the student body. I think that will have an impact for our enrollment and our FFA program for years to come.”

Pearce said they have an advantage for eighth graders who want to take ag classes. They can take Ag 1 and the credits can roll into their freshman year.

“Those students can take that Introduction to Agriculture,” Pearce said. “They can come on board and join this Ag Mech class as a ninth grader coming from their respective high school.”

Hime said their ultimate goal is to turn the old Life Ready Center gym into a place to teach construction trades.

“We’re doing electricians, carpenters, welders and all different things and some of the high tech stuff in here is more than just welding,” Hime said.

“This is going to create opportunities for a great number of students that we didn’t have before,” Hime said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do.”