The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes, Quill Correspondent
A 300-acre school farm that has benefited the Southern School District for more than 30 years will change ownership when a new Henderson County school district becomes official July 1st this year.
Minor changes to the lease agreement with the farm's current tenant, Darryl Lenz, was approved at the school board's December meeting.
A final draft of the updated five-year agreement will be brought before the board for approval at this month's board meeting.
Southern interim superintendent Tom Avery said the board first formally discussed the issue in October, resulting in a unanimous decision to renew the contract with Lenz for five years, providing time for both tenant and the new school district to decide what they want to do eventually.
Southern FFA alumni president Jerry Keimig believes expanding the farm for an increased student population is good news.
"We're very happy to hear that. Hopefully it will provide the opportunity to utilize and benefit from what's there for the new district's science classes as well as ag classes," Keimig said.
The farm was given to the old Media-Wever school district in the early 20th century by the Wever family with the stipulation that it be used to benefit the students' education. When Media became part of the consolidated Southern school district in 1971, the farm became that district's property.
Now, the Union-Southern school district, which Henderson County voters approved on last November's ballot and that will officially be created July 1, will be the next to assume ownership of the 300-acre working farm.
Southern School Board farm committee member Rod Fox said the board and Lenz have to date, simply shared expenses and profits from the farm evenly.
"It's been a great thing for the school. We haven't gotten rich from it but it's provided a steady income for us," Fox said.
The property is approximately 50 percent tillable ground and 50 percent pasture and timber.
The agreement with Lenz has been done orally on a year-to-year basis since the first year's contract was signed by both parties.
The decision to draft an updated version came with the new district's future in mind.
"They (the board) wanted to do what's best for both the tenant and for the new district," Avery said.
The farm also got a sprucing up five years ago when Southern revived its agricultural program. Plans for a new pond, orchards and prairie grass restoration were made but were put on hold shortly after initial work began by students and FFA alumni.
"The board at that time was looking at budget cuts and was uncertain of the district's future," Fox said.
The new five-year lease agreement will provide Lenz and the new school district time to decide on the farm's future use.