Jeff Tech breaks ground on new “Farm to Refrigerator” building

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – School and county officials gathered at Jeff Tech to host a groundbreaking celebration for their project “Farm to Refrigerator” that will teach students about butchering.

Butchering is the process of cutting up and processing an animal for food. Many in the industry now are growing older and Jeff Tech hopes that adding this program to their school will help influence people to join and make an impact in the area.

“It’s a unique opportunity for the community to revitalize the farming to revitalize, how we purchase meat, how we feed our families, and really to provide jobs for our families,” Jeff Tech Director Barry Fillman said.

Also at the groundbreaking celebration was U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson. Thompson assisted the school with getting much-needed funding. In total, the project is predicted to cost around $2.4 million. Thompson says that the opportunity is unique and has traveled around the country and state and he says he is now bragging about Jeff Tech having this opportunity.

“I’ve not seen anything quite like it in any of my travels,” Thompson said. “In terms of the support for our number one industry in Pennsylvania, which is agriculture this is huge. But they recognized a number of years ago that there was an issue with food insecurity when it came to the meat processing industry.”

Fillman says that this program will also help fill gaps in the industry and create new opportunities in the area.

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“Part of the logjam has always been getting people to cut it. People are taking it out of state, people are waiting an extraordinarily long time to get it cut. And if we can grow it here, cut it here, and sell it here, then we can bring all that business to here,” Fillman said.

The school hopes to be able to open the new building doors by next school year.

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