Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 114, No. 17	April 23, 2008

FBLA students assist in teaching Computers for Farmers

Photo by Sandra Stone
Lorraine Himmelhaver (pictured at right) teaches the Computers for Farmers class with the assistance of FBLA members.

By SANDRA STONE
Messenger Staff

Surfing the Internet, organizing data in spread sheets, using a computer to write letters, essays and reports. These are all skills grade school students learn. Now their parents and grandparents are learning those same skills.

Computers for Farmers is a grant the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) recently wrote to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. The grant provides refurbished computers to farmers who have participated in the tobacco buyout and do not have a good working computer at home. To receive the computers, they are required to take a class, computer skills for farming.

Lorraine Himmelhaver, a business teacher at the James R. Allen Freshman Academy, is teaching the class with the assistance of members of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

“It’s been a good partnership with FBLA,” said Tim Carden, who is coordinating the class as part of the Adult Agricultural Program. Participating in the class are 16 farming families from both Meade and Breckinridge counties.

“We’ve had some who didn’t even know how to turn on a computer, and Mrs. Himmelhaver and the students have done a great job with them,” said Carden.

Himmelhaver is teaching basic computer skills, including working with Windows, word processing, spread sheets, Internet and e-mail. Her instructional assistants, who are primarily freshmen, support her in providing one-on-one assistance to the participants.

“We’re always looking for ways to utilize the students to serve the community,” said Himmelhaver. “When Mr. Carden asked if I would teach the class, I knew there was no way to do this without the help of these teenagers. They’ve all been wonderful.”

“I didn’t realize how much we know that people older than we didn’t,” said Kita-Rae Simpson. Many of the class participants have never even touched a mouse before, and many have never even turned on a computer. Simpson added she has learned a lot more by helping others learn.

Photo by Sandra Stone
Amanda Basham (center) works with class participants Debbie Fackler and Dale Barger during the computers for farmers class being taught at the Freshman Academy.

Amanda Basham, also a freshman, has been at every class to help. “It’s been fun, and I’ve been learning a lot I didn’t know,” she said.

“It’s been fun being the teacher,” said Basham. “It’s been fun but hard. I know what it’s like to be a teacher.”

Basham said she’s enjoyed working with her adult students. “Debbie Fackler and Dale Barger have been really cool to work with,” said Basham. “They’ve made this enjoyable for me, too.”

The class has been going very well, said Carden, and he anticipates another class in the fall, provided there is sufficient interest. For a cost of $50, participants receive 15 hours of computer training and a refurbished computer for their home. Anyone interested in the classes may contact Carden at (270) 547-8662.

Click Here to Go Back