FALLS VILLAGE — The Agriculture Education department at Housatonic Valley Regional High School held an open house Tuesday, May 18, with about 100 exhibits and demonstrations.
Much of the activity was outside, and everyone wore masks and tried to be mindful of social distance.
That said, it was almost normal.
Kathleen Bodwell, a ninth grader from Cornwall, had a Disney-inspired ring of roses and carnations she had created that afternoon.
There was a slight emergency when she ran out of flowers about a third of the way through, necessitating some last-minute shopping.
In the next room, ninth grader Haley Leonard of North Canaan had a basketball-inspired arrangement of white carnations and pistachio daisies, nestled in a glass container containing miniature foam basketballs.
Outside, sophomore Spencer Markow was demonstrating the operation of a Wood-Mizer sawmill to Holly Leibrock (who had been pressed into service as a judge).
Back inside, Paige MacNeil, a senior from North Canaan, served up a sausage and barley casserole that, when augmented with some lettuce and cut fruit, hit the correct daily percentages for the major food groups. It was very tasty.
And Philip Roberts, a sophomore from Kent, was allowing visitors to get an up-close and personal look at a group of ferrets.
Despite having had a busy day, the ferrets were quite active and supremely wriggly.
“They’re very flexible,” said Roberts as a ferret wormed its way out of his arms and into a plastic tub filled with plastic balls.
“And very mischievous,” he added as another ferret poked its head out from under some bedding and decided to make a dash for freedom.
