FFA members teach ECS students about animal care.
The sight of goats grazing near the school parking lot, chickens pecking at the dirt and kittens running around the classroom might seem like a typical day in an agriculture class. At Apex Friendship High School in Apex, N.C., these familiar scenes take on a new meaning twice a month. That’s when students from the Special Education (ECS) classrooms arrive ready to learn, connect and experience agriculture with their FFA buddies.
Through the Buddies Program, animal science students and FFA leaders connect with and teach ECS students about animals and agriculture using hands-on activities that spark curiosity and create meaningful friendships. Whether practicing animal sounds, building habitats or learning about animal diets, their focus is simple: inclusion through agriculture.
The program was started by Ava Dominique Scheidig, former Apex Friendship FFA Chapter sentinel, whose vision was to make the animal science classroom a place where every student could feel welcome, valued and included.
“The Buddies Program started as a small idea with a big purpose: To make sure every student, no matter their ability, feels connection, respect and opportunity,” she says. “Over the past three years, I’ve watched it grow into something life-changing. It’s not just helping our amazing ECS students, but also general education students who are learning empathy, patience and how to work with people different from themselves. Our dedicated ECS teachers and Mr. Edmonds have supported this program from the beginning, and their work continues to inspire me as I take the Buddies Program into college. My dream is to see it in schools everywhere, so inclusion becomes the norm, not the exception.”
Animal science teacher and FFA advisor Keonte Edmonds emphasizes how the program benefits both ECS students and FFA members.
“Working with all students is incredibly rewarding, especially through our Animal Science Buddies Program, where inclusion, leadership and hands-on learning come together in a powerful way,” he says. “It’s a unique experience that not only builds confidence and empathy but also fosters real-world teaching and communication skills. As an [animal science] teacher, I dedicate time and resources, in collaboration with our booster club, to ensure the success of this program. Last year, we were awarded a grant to purchase adaptive learning materials, allowing us to better meet the needs of all learners. One of our proudest moments was when an advanced animal studies student was recognized for the recommendation to help implement similar programs in other schools. This work goes far beyond academics. It builds community, celebrates differences and shows every student that they have something valuable to contribute. That’s what makes working with all students so special.”
ECS teachers Ricki Marshburn and Hillary Kitchen notice the program’s positive impact on their students.
“The integration of the animal science class with the ECS program has created a unique and enriching learning environment where all students can thrive together,” Marshburn says. “This connection has led to meaningful [connections], new opportunities and growth in multiple areas for ECS students.”
“For our students with special needs, [the Buddies Program] provides engaging, hands-on learning experiences that make animal science accessible and fun, while also helping [ECS students] build communication and social skills,” Kitchen adds. “The program promotes inclusion, friendship and confidence for everyone involved.”
ECS student Meredith Grieci explains how the Buddies Program has made a difference in her daily life.
“We [get to go] see the animals and do activities with [animal science] students,” she says. “I really like going to animal science. My favorite animal is Nugget, [one of the] guinea pigs.”
Former chapter secretary and FFA member Ben Grammich shows an ECS student how to use a stethoscope.
Ben Grammich, a former Apex Friendship FFA Chapter secretary, Physical Education Pupil Instructor (PEPI) and Buddies Program participant, remembers how the program created meaningful connections and showed how FFA can support all students.
“I think [the Buddies Program] was a great way to connect two amazing classrooms,” he says. “It allowed students in animal science to meet [ECS] students who loved to learn. The program taught [animal science students] an important lesson: that FFA can be utilized in many ways. I made a lot of great connections through the Buddies Program and hope to see it continue for many years to come.”
Together, the FFA members and ECS students prove that agriculture is more than just a school subject. It can be a bridge that connects diverse students through shared interests, learning and friendship. The Buddies Program continues to grow, fostering an inclusive community where every student has a place to belong.
