Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Agriculture education is taking root in an exciting new way at Feagin Mill Middle School in Warner Robins, where ag teacher and FFA advisor James Judson is using a hydroponic tower garden to bring the future of farming directly into his classroom — and it's already inspiring the next generation of Georgia's agricultural workforce.
Funded through a Bright Ideas Grant from Flint Energies, the tower garden grows varieties like bibb and butter lettuce using a fully automated hydroponic system — pumping nutrient-rich water from a reservoir at the bottom up through the roots, with lights set on timers to control sunlight exposure. From seed to harvest in just about a month, the process is simple, hands-on, and eye-opening for students who may never have set foot on a traditional farm.
Judson says that's exactly the point. In a city like Warner Robins, where many students live in apartments and subdivisions, traditional row crop agriculture can feel worlds away. But hydroponics and ag technology? That's something every student can connect with — and envision for their own future. With one in seven Georgians working in agriculture, Judson reminds his students that roughly four kids in every class will one day have a career tied to the industry.
Eighth grader Kinley Harter says a class tour of a large hydroponic facility in Houston County was a turning point — seeing the plants, the machinery, the packaging process, and the scale of it all made her realize this could be her future. Back in the classroom, she's learning firsthand how to read her plants, balance light and water, and think like a grower.
Beyond the tower garden, Feagin Mill's ag program also features a working greenhouse, raised garden beds, and an annual plant sale that puts students' skills on full display for the community.
Agriculture education is taking root in an exciting new way at Feagin Mill Middle School in Warner Robins, where ag teacher and FFA advisor James Judson is using a hydroponic tower garden to bring the future of farming directly into his classroom — and it's already inspiring the next generation of Georgia's agricultural workforce.
Funded through a Bright Ideas Grant from Flint Energies, the tower garden grows varieties like bibb and butter lettuce using a fully automated hydroponic system — pumping nutrient-rich water from a reservoir at the bottom up through the roots, with lights set on timers to control sunlight exposure. From seed to harvest in just about a month, the process is simple, hands-on, and eye-opening for students who may never have set foot on a traditional farm.
Judson says that's exactly the point. In a city like Warner Robins, where many students live in apartments and subdivisions, traditional row crop agriculture can feel worlds away. But hydroponics and ag technology? That's something every student can connect with — and envision for their own future. With one in seven Georgians working in agriculture, Judson reminds his students that roughly four kids in every class will one day have a career tied to the industry.
Eighth grader Kinley Harter says a class tour of a large hydroponic facility in Houston County was a turning point — seeing the plants, the machinery, the packaging process, and the scale of it all made her realize this could be her future. Back in the classroom, she's learning firsthand how to read her plants, balance light and water, and think like a grower.
Beyond the tower garden, Feagin Mill's ag program also features a working greenhouse, raised garden beds, and an annual plant sale that puts students' skills on full display for the community.
