A groundbreaking ceremony for an animal science barn for the Hopkins High School FFA was held Saturday morning, and the festivities included FFA Advisor Jessica Couch (far left), project alumni leader Dawn Punches (second from left) and Comer Skinner (far right).

The 2,400-square-foot steel barn is being built behind Hopkins High School and is being designed to house animal pens, an office, handicapped-accessible bathroom, hand-washing station, open classroom area, moveable tables and a loft. The building will replace an old barn used for livestock projects before it was torn down several years ago.

Instructors will use the new animal science barn for teaching agriscience concepts to older students, including animal husbandry, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics and production methods.

Instructional programs for elementary-age students in the building will be designed to encourage children’s curiosity about raising animals.

The barn also will be a storage area for educational and exhibit materials and community service tools. Students who lack space at home will be able to raise an animal as a project will be able to use the animal science barn.