By Maggie Edwards 

It’s been six years since students at Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) began reaping benefits of the Joe Tom Armbrester (JTA) Agricultural Center in Talladega County. 

An anonymous donation allowed AIDB to construct the center and lay the foundation for this life-changing farm, said AIDB President Dennis Gilliam.

“This farm was begun by the spirit of agriculture,” Gilliam said. “The donor’s intent was to create a reality for young people that was less virtual. Our goal was to create a space for students to come and learn how agriculture works and how it provides for families in Alabama. It’s for students with exceptionalities who are often forgotten. This gives them a taste of everything and allows them to see what is out there.” 

The center honors the late Joe Tom Armbrester, a Talladega County farmer whose wife, Jan, taught art at AIDB for 30 years. 

“My dad and his brother, Joe Tom, were farming partners for over 40 years,” said Matt Armbrester, the ag center’s program manager of agriculture, horticulture and biotechnology. “Joe Tom was a lifelong learner. He got up every morning with a new idea and had a deep passion for ag. Now, I’m here working, and it’s special to me. Joe Tom would be proud of what we do and how we are continuing to innovate by educating kids.” 

The JTA Agricultural Center is open year-round, with students kindergarten through 12th grade using the space.

“This allows students to learn through the different growing seasons on the farm,” Gilliam said. “It teaches them responsibility — like bottle feeding a calf or picking fresh vegetables. We let them experience it all. They are giving back to the environment by providing something to the community.” 

While the center is used for students at all three AIDB campuses, it also operates during the summer for the institute’s JumpStart program. Joy and excitement filled the hot air as students from across Alabama stepped onto the center’s soil in July eager to cultivate their own crops.

“JumpStart gives experience in work and hands-on learning to better prepare our participants for life after school,” Gilliam said. “They spend two weeks on campus visiting the farm and other areas to gain insight to work and college prep. Participants include students in transitional ages.”

The agricultural focus is centered on growing fresh produce, raising livestock and producing honey, said AIDB educator Rachel Chastain.

“We are teaching life skills,” said Chastain, the Alabama Farmers Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee chair and Federation State Bee & Honey Committee member. “We’ve had years when students have done honey extractions on their own. I teach lessons on bee equipment and the importance of cleaning supplies. We also talk about the plants we grow and teach about pollinators.” 

Chastain and other AIDB agriscience educators encourage sensory development through farm work. 

“We help them make observations and use all their senses,” said Chastain, who teaches at Helen Keller School. “A lot of students feel like a regular classroom is work, but on the farm, they are naturally engaged. I end up getting them to work on skills that if we tried in the classroom, they would be reluctant. Out here, it’s a preferred activity.” 

Chastain said AIDB staff hope to encourage independence in each child who comes through the program. 

“We want them to learn about plants and animals, but it’s more than that,” Chastain said. “It’s learning skills and exploring them in a safe space.” 

While it takes a village to run the center, Matt Armbrester has a front-row seat to student success — a worthy legacy for which his humble uncle would give thanks. 

“You have to have a passion for people to do this,” he said. “It’s really special to work here, to watch students grow and step out of their comfort zones. Many have never picked a tomato or an ear of corn. Mentoring students at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is like planting a seed and watching it grow.”