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Racine County School of Agriculture and
Domestic Economy opened in November
of 1912. It closed as Ag School in 1957 with
forty-five dedicated years of service to the
students and people of Racine County.
It had facilities for all sorts of agricultural
training, such as milk testing and judging
cattle, sheep, poultry, horses and swine.
Shop classes including carpentry, mechan-
ical drawing and iron work in the forge
room. Work with beekeeping and orchard
work including pruning and setting out fruit
trees was Mr. Klumb's specialty. Mr.
Dittbrenner was the ag teacher and foot-
ball coach for many years. Valdemer Beers
taught woodworking and was the basket-
ball and baseball coach from 1912 to 1947.
The school had great classes in typing,
shorthand and bookkeeping along with its
very fine home economics department.
This enabled the young ladies of Ag School
to use their new found skills in the business
world almost as soon as they graduated.
Miss Orlicky was one of their teachers. Miss
Laughton was one of the Ag Schools very
fine English and History teachers. Ag School
also had a band, one of its directors was
John Meyer, a man who could play three
or four band instruments. Mr. Polley was
Superintendent serving longer than anyone
else in that capacity.
Some of the "Aggies" coming from afar
stayed at the dormitory. It was built in 1918
by Burlington building contractor, Olaf
Hoganson. The dorm served the students
and the school from that time until the
school closed in 1957.
All of Ag Schools many students are forever
thankful and grateful for these dedicated
people that helped us over life's sometimes
bumpy trail.
                        Wendell E. Earle
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