At the core of the new Alba-Golden Schools ag-science project center is a 30’ x 50’ indoor practice arena. It occupies the center of the building and is quite literally, the centerpiece. Everything else is arranged around it. 

After delays due to the wet months of May and June, the building is taking shape on the elevation just south of the main campus.  It promises to be a source of pride for the school and the community for years to come. 

Jackson Construction of Quitman is building the 12,000 square foot metal facility. As of July 15, the frame was complete with the roof and exterior walls nearly so. Abed Abuhatab, Jackson Construction building superintendent, anticipates handing the keys to the new building over to Alba-Golden Schools in October. 

The building could be best described as being built in thirds. On the south face, a personnel door and two roll-up doors lead through four sections of small pens. There are 26 small pens to accommodate goats, lambs and pigs. It is the first third of the building.

Advancing straight through the small pens leads to the practice arena – the second third. Bleachers will be north-facing at the show area to accommodate students and allow for demonstrations and classes. To the west of the show area, along the exterior wall, will be storage, a small technology room and a trimming room. To the east will be bathrooms (with showers) and animal cleaning stations.  

A mezzanine will stretch out above the western wall. Three large, permanently-installed fans will provide adequate air circulation.

Two roll-up doors and a personnel door then exit the enclosed structure to the cattle pens – the last third. A drive-through runs the width of the building between the enclosed structure and the cattle pens. This drive will allow for convenient intake of animals directly into the building. 

Each roll-up door access will also feature an external sliding gate. Use of these sliding gates will provide additional ventilation while also securing the building. 

The sixteen 12’ x 12’ cattle pens are under the same roof but will have the northern end open for access to future cow runs. An automatic watering system will service the pens.

A natural gas-fueled tube heating system will service the small pens in the southern section of the building. Altogether, five roll-up vehicular doors will allow ample and easy access, while the two main personnel doorways will be on the southern and western faces.

The building site required a good bit of soil to be brought in, in order to plateau the knoll on which the building sits. Fortuitously, that select soil was able to be taken from just down the road. In fact, the many sub-contractors working on the project are, if not local, at least from greater East Texas.

The building is well-footed. The main structure is anchored on 8’ x 8’ concrete footings. The minor anchors on the traverse footings are 5’ x 5’. The whole building is supported, as well, with a 24” wide footing around the  perimeter and through the centerline of the building.

For security, the projects center will be equipped with an alarm system and video cameras. Card-reading locks will also provide security at the many access points.

When finished, the projects center will be a well-designed, utilitarian building which will be of the caliber required for the thriving ag-science department at Alba-Golden. 

Lead ag-science instructor Richard Lovorn credits his predecessor, Kyndal Dixon, with creating the initial vision for the projects center.

“She came up with the grand plan which we have modified and trimmed to get the best return on our dollar and construct a facility which will serve us for many years to come,” Lovorn explained.

The connection between Alba-Golden and ag-science is as strong as ever. Lovorn describes how the commitment required in the husbandry of animals builds character and meets so many of the school’s objectives. Those efforts, he added, often become family projects adding even more value to the undertaking.    

“Ag-science itself is a family,” Lovorn admitted. 

The new ag-science project center will be a showcase and will serve to strengthen the lasting relationships within the community.