Budget cuts affect farm

[Farm: Continued from page 1]

Today, in addition to the 20 percent it gets from movie shoots, the farm earns its money from selling baby animals.

“If we don’t get our animals pregnant, we’ll have to sell everything here,” said Shapiro.

The farm receives no money for feed, veterinary care or repairing of fence lines. It does, however, get money for but only for the two full-time laborers, one part-time worker, and the water bill.

“It pains me to see the distruction of the farm,” Shapiro said.

The farm has sent a proposal to the Resources Advisory Committee to restore some of its funds, Kozeracki said.

“I don’t know if it’s been approved by the president,” Donna-Mae Villanueva, a member of the committee, said. “I do know that it’s moving along.”Pierce College President Kathleen BurkeKelly was unavailable for comment.

“Taxpayers put money into this facility,” Pierce agriculture technician Russ Schrotenboer said.

“It’s really the people’s land. It’s a multipurpose facility for families to get a feel for what real farm is like.

A shutdown of the farm would be a great loss to the Pierce’s community, Schrotenboer said.

“Where else is a child going to have the opportunity to see what a real farm is like?” he said.

The Pierce College Farm will be hosting a Farm Walk April 22 for students, staff and community members to raise money for the struggling farm, and to benefit the animals and the students.

“We’re really hoping that the community will come forward,” Shapiro said. “It is unbelievably important.”

Contributing: Michaia Hernandez

1671 - Farm owned 450 cattle, 250 sheep, 250 pigs and 6,000 chicken.

1989- The farm’s pig unit was shut down. 1990 - The farm’s dairy was shut down, and 114 heads of dairy cattle were shipped to be slaughtered.

2012- The farm owns 20 cows, 12 sheep, no pigs and 33 chickens. The farm needs $50,000 to feed these animals each year.

Mooney is partnering up with Robert Hovanisian to form the leaders of the project, but any Pierce student or faculty member can be involved.

“I’m trying to get a bunch of creative people together to brainstorm on it,” Mooney said.

The movie is set to be played in the fall, and the idea is to have the film centered on accreditation standards and how they show up in student life.

Shane’s idea for the film is to follow a “student” from the first day of college until he/she graduates or transfers. The story will touch on some standards.

The group will meet in the ASO Conference Room until they need a bigger space.

“We might be up to 100 students,” Mooney said.

He will be talking to Cinema Club, the students involved in the Theatre Department and generally anyone who is interested in making a movie.

As of now, Mooney seemed inspired to make a comedy/faux-documentary of the film.

“I think it should be funny because it pulls people in when it‘s funny,” Mooney said.

Faculty Accreditation Coordinator Mia Wood is helping with the film in any way she can.

“The students run the show and we [the faculty] are just here to serve you,” Wood said.

She agreed with Mooney that the film could use some humor.

“We already have so much serious stuff going on right now,” Wood said. “Sometimes a laugh is needed.” Mooney is inviting anyone interested in being part of the film to show up for a meeting March 9 at 1 p.m. in the ASO Conference Room.