PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding visited the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Technical College High School (TCHS) Pickering campus on Friday, September 26, underscoring the role of agricultural education in preparing the next generation of leaders.
Redding toured the Animal Science program, where students train in veterinary assisting, animal husbandry, and agricultural sciences using equipment and materials funded through a Department of Agriculture grant. He emphasized that programs like these do more than build technical skills.
“Pennsylvania’s future will be shaped by the young people we are preparing today,” Redding said. “The Animal Science program at TCHS Pickering is among hundreds of excellent ag education programs across the state that are not just teaching skills, but cultivating leaders who are prepared to strengthen their communities, meet the challenges agriculture will face tomorrow, and carry forward our proud legacy of farming and animal care.”
The CCIU integrates leadership training into its career and technical programs, giving students opportunities to apply teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. Unionville High School senior Gina Gallo, a TCHS Pennock’s Bridge student, said her Veterinary Science coursework, combined with leadership activities and dual enrollment classes, has shaped her career path. “The CCIU has really helped me customize my learning experience to fit what I want to do,” Gallo said. “It’s preparing me for the future.”
CCIU executive director Dr. George F. Fiore noted that stories like Gallo’s illustrate the broader impact of career and technical education. “When we invest in education, we are investing in leaders,” he said.
The Animal Science program is part of a wider network across TCHS campuses that equips students in Chester County and surrounding districts with the training and leadership experience needed to succeed in agriculture and other high-demand industries.
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