There is a part of campus that outside of the department of agriculture sciences, is rarely seen by the average student. It is what many refer to simply as “the farm.”
The farm houses creatures many students may not have seen up close and personal outside of petting zoos. There are cows, horses and even hogs.
It also has nine sows used for educational purposes. Students in the Agriculture Science Department help in caring for the animals. They administer all vaccinations and are educated in how to care for each species.
There is one student worker specifically for the hog department, but also several classes and professors that aid in taking care of the hogs.
The breeding of the hogs happens twice a year. A majority of the young hogs are sold to local the FFA organization for showing and breeding. However, the hog department will hold onto about 12-15 of them to enter into contests.
“It gives a lot of students with no experience with hogs the chance to do all of these things and learn how everything in the industry works together,” Chris Ellason, lecturer of animal science, said.
Ellason (pictured above) is also the manager of the hog facility. He takes care of the feeding, breeding and general maintenance of the facility.
“I get to put my own touch on the farm and change it how I think it needs changing and make it better,” he said.
Ellason graduated from A&M-Commerce with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences and his master’s degree in animal science. His career started in a purebred cattle operation, but he said he is glad he “ended up” here.
“It’s definitely more fulfilling,” he said. ” I get to work with some of the same professors that I had and impart knowledge to kids who are just like I was.”