PLANTATION, Fla. — Chickens, goats, rabbits, snakes, guinea pigs, parrots and even cats aren’t what most students expect to find when they arrive at high school.
But at South Plantation High School, they’re part of the classroom.
The school is home to the largest animal science program in Broward County, giving students an opportunity to step outside a traditional classroom and learn about animals and farm life through hands-on experience.
Students aren’t simply observing the animals. They’re responsible for caring for them, from feeding and cleaning enclosures to trimming hooves and making sure the animals remain healthy.
For senior Mya Garcia, who has been enrolled in the program throughout all four years of high school, that responsibility is one of the best parts.
“It’s really exciting and like it brings me so much joy to just be with the animals,” Garcia said.
Garcia helps feed the animals, clean their pens and make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need.
“I really like taking care of the animals and like just feeding them and making sure they get all their nutrients, their pens are clean and just seeing them happy,” she said.
And her responsibilities aren’t limited to traditional farm animals.
Garcia also works with the program’s snakes, including one named Cornelia.
“Out of the three snakes, I personally think I like her the most,” Garcia said. “I personally think she’s the most friendly.”
For some students, the program is helping prepare them for careers working with animals.
Junior Matthew Grandez sought out the magnet program because he wants to become a veterinarian.
“This has helped me out a lot, you know, not being afraid of going hands-on with the animals, or touching the animal food or just being outside working with them,” Grandez said.
On one day, that hands-on education included learning how to trim goats’ hooves.
“We need to cut their hooves because if they grow too long it gets all awkward and stuff, and we also have to make sure they are balanced, like straight,” Grandez said.
Other students can be found spreading mulch, cleaning animal areas and performing the daily tasks necessary to keep the program running.
Animal science teacher Ben Leatherman has led the department for the past decade and has a personal connection to South Plantation High School: He was once a student there himself.
Leatherman now teaches seven classes a day with more than 220 students enrolled.
Their experience levels can vary dramatically.
“For a lot of them this is their first time ever seeing a rabbit or a guinea pig or their first time pulling a carrot out of the ground,” Leatherman said. “But then I also have kids who might have parrots at home and they come to school knowing more than I do!”
Student Adaline Beck came into the program with plenty of experience.
“I have actually been around animals all my life,” Beck said, adding that she has worked on a farm since she was 5.
Beck is responsible for the program’s chickens and their coop.
Students also learn how to operate the farm like a business, adding lessons in responsibility to the animal-care skills they’re developing.
Junior Zoey Parisi said the program teaches students whether they’re prepared to take on those responsibilities.
“The overall experience of just taking care of them, learning different skills that come along with it, like being able to take responsibility and being able to know whether you’re able to do it or not,” Parisi said.
Many of the animals living at the school were donated to the program, including Thumper, an older lop-eared rabbit who has spent his entire life there.
The variety of animals means students can find their own interests. Along with rabbits and goats, the program cares for snakes, guinea pigs, parrots, cockatiels and cats.
Leatherman said some students develop particularly strong connections with certain animals.
“Some of them really gravitate towards an animal or a subject matter and it’s their baby, you know what I mean,” he said. “And you can tell it’s the reason why they show up to school every day for four years — ‘I love this class. I love hanging out with this animal.’”
For senior Camilla Torressoto, spending so much time with the animals has allowed her to learn their individual behaviors and needs.
“I know their mannerisms, I know if they are OK or not, what they could eat or not,” Torressoto said. “It’s just like my whole existence.”
At South Plantation High School, those relationships are helping students learn responsibility, gain practical experience and, for some, discover a future career — one animal at a time.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
