UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Erica Boomer is a Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Teacher at Upper Lake High School.  

She currently is teaching Introduction to Ag Mechanics, Introduction to Ag Science, ROP Advance Ag Mechanics, and ROP Ag and Natural Resources.

This class is part of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Pathway with Career Technical Education (CTE) at ULHS.  

A large portion of the ROP program includes hands-on learning that is possible through the creativity and support of staff, community and administration.

The students at Upper Lake are learning a variety of related topics in this pathway program that includes how to work on agriculture machinery, related sciences and research, woodworking and forestry.  

The Agriculture and Natural Resource Pathway at ULHS is embarking on a new chapter that includes a campus farm complete with a well and garden partially funded by an Ag Incentive Specialized Grant.  

Students will be able to apply their learning to the development and maintenance of the facility through lessons such as soil sampling, raising market animals as well as working on the machinery, constructing farm buildings and fencing.

A large percentage of the students participating in this pathway with Boomer have some type of connection to agriculture.

All students enrolled in an ag class are required to be involved with FFA but participation varies from afterschool meetings, to officers, to raising animals for fair.  

The addition of a campus farm will allow those students who otherwise don’t have room to house an animal to participate in future years.  

Boomer knows that California is No. 1 in agriculture in our country and therefore it is important for our students to understand it from farmer to consumer.

Students choose to participate in the Agriculture and Natural Resources pathway for a variety of reasons.

While some have a genuine passion and career interest, others are there to help family farms or just because it seems interesting.  

Emily Knispel, a 2011 graduate, is majoring in agriculture at CSU Chico.

Students like Knispel feel that it’s natural to take the agriculture pathway living in Upper Lake because it’s something that most have grown up with.

The expansion of the program at Upper Lake High School is definitely a labor of love for Boomer.

She has taught at the school for five years and has an obvious connection with her students and a passion for her field.  

She works closely with the other ag programs at Kelseyville and Middletown High and knows that they will be there for support in true ag fashion as she learns the ins and outs of a campus farm.  

If you would like to find out more about the program at Upper Lake High School contact Erica Boomer at 707-275-2338, Extension 132, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .