It’s not every day you get to work with animals or grow your own food in a classroom setting, but that’s exactly what Windsor Central High School students are now being recognized for. The district has earned national recognition for its agriculture program.

Tina Miner-James is providing these students with an opportunity they might not get anywhere else. As an agriculture teacher at Windsor Central High School, she’s always bringing new lessons to the table.

One is a crash course in veterinary science, as her class prepares to care for live animals right at the school.

"I have always been a believer in taking the academics that a student learns and putting it to fruition in a hands on project based environment. And that's what we do here," said Miner-James.

James, and the district are now getting some major recognition for their hard work. The National School Boards Association presented Windsor with the Grand Prize Magna Award for their agriculture pathway program. It's the only district in the nation with fewer than 5,000 students to win the award.

"It's just really overwhelming to receive such an amazing recognition for everybody's hard work and the parts they play in this," said Miner-James.

From aquaponics, to hydroponics, these students are graduating with knowledge you typically can’t find in your ordinary New York classroom. In one project, students are growing their own food, that’ll soon be served in lunchrooms across the district.

"It's very humbling for the students because they realize the difference between fresh and not fresh," said Miner-James.

Wherever these students take their careers following graduation, it’s clear they’ll be leaving with skills you just don’t learn every day. Windsor students operate a live barn and chicken coop, and will soon welcome cows onto their high school grounds.