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HARRELLS, NC – Harrells Christian Academy is committed to “Training Crusaders for Christ” while nurturing a lifelong love for learning and service. Continued growth of the academy has raised enrollment to its highest numbers in over a decade with today’s student population topping 480 plus students. Likewise, the HCA FFA program is bursting at the seams with students eager to learn about agriculture and Ag mechanics. With over 100 students in the FFA chapter and a growing demand for tradesmen, HCA knew it was time to expand its agricultural education curriculum and build new infrastructure to support that growth.

John Prestage (Prestage Farms), Vanna Prestage (Prestage Farms), Harrison DeVane (HCA FFA President ’22), Patsy Barnhill (HCA Board of Trustees – Chairman), Andy Wells (HCA Head of School),
Mark Stampe (Ag Instructor), Lindsay Matthews (Ag Instructor).

In the 2021-22 school year the HCA FFA officers could see the handwriting on the wall and developed, with the help of their advisor Lindsay Matthews, an idea to build a new agricultural education building that would provide opportunities for an expanded Ag curriculum. Fast forward three years, and their idea is about to become a reality with a nearly 7,000-square-foot facility that will house animal science programming and an Ag workshop with welding, woodworking, and small engine mechanics. The new addition was recently funded, in part, by the Golden LEAF Foundation, designated gifts, and gifts in memory of Mr. William H. Prestage. “Golden LEAF is proud to invest in Harrells Christian Academy’s vision for agricultural education,” said Scott T. Hamilton, President and CEO of the Golden LEAF Foundation. “This facility will provide students with critical hands-on training that not only prepares them for high-demand careers in our state’s agribusiness sector, but also strengthens the economic future of southeastern North Carolina.”

On February 6, Harrells Christian Academy was awarded $350,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation to build an agricultural education building and upfit it with the necessary equipment to provide hands-on Ag instruction. When completed, the new Ag education space will provide training for career minded students pursuing an associate degree in agriculture and/or career certifications in conjunction with the University of Mount Olive and the Sampson Community College CCP program through dual enrollment and the HCA Ag pathway. Ultimately, HCA’s new addition will deliver qualified applicants to fill jobs that are in high demand. “We believe the new HCA Agricultural Education Building and pathway will not only be beneficial to HCA but to the entire southeast region of North Carolina and its Ag partners,” states Andy Wells, Head of School. Wells adds, “The Golden LEAF Foundation funding will allow us to expand our Ag curriculum with courses in animal science,welding, woodworking, and small engine mechanics while preparing students for the workforce. Without the funding and the new building, we would not have this opportunity to serve southeastern North Carolina with qualified trade applicants.”

The project is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year and the new building will open for classes in the Spring of 2026.