It was 1961 and a Seminole resident by the name of William (Bill) E. Moore was walking a rugged swatch of pines,
palmettos and swamp in Seminole. This area of rural Pinellas County was recommended to be the site for a
fledgling agriculture center which would give interested high school students a chance to experience a hands-on
agriculture based education. With one acre of property purchased and approximately 42 acres leased from Pinellas
County for a mere one dollar a year, Moore alone opened the school and was the only teacher for the first year.

The Largo-Seminole Agriculture Center opened its doors in 1961 and in the early years, the “Ag Farm” (as it was
then nick-named), was attended by students from Largo and Seminole high schools. It was these first groups of
students and their teacher and volunteers who cleared the land and help continue to build the labs, classrooms and
shops.

Many local residents and business people were responsible for expanding and supporting the school including
Seminole High School principal, Stanley Moore, Largo High School principal, Francis Pfost and Director of
vocational education, Joe Mills. Oren Douglas and Leo Traylor came to the Ag Farm during its second year.

Douglas lived on the farm property and was full-time instructor of carpentry and masonry while Traylor taught
cabinet making. These teachers were soon followed by Fred Body and Reed Franz, agriculture instructors and
Arthur Ward, who was hired to provide farm tours for elementary school children.

Seeing the effect this hands-on approach to education had on its students, instructors and Director Moore were
eager to expand the Ag Farm. It wasn’t long before the approximately 60 students had built a poultry house, a beef
cattle barn, a large main building with two classrooms, a workshop, office rest rooms and a shower. Land was
cleared for vegetable farming and citrus and a pond was stocked with bass and brim. Fences were built to separate
pastures. Progress however, did have some interruptions. As the Ag Farm was being carved out of the wilderness,
it was necessary to rid the area of some of its natural inhabitants… rattlesnakes and alligators were sent to quieter
resting places.

But it wasn’t only the wildlife that discouraged development. For years the current SVEC campus had been a
favorite spot for dove hunters. “You built on our hunting grounds” the sportsmen said. Fences were cut to provide
the needed access for the sport.

Fortunately there were far more advocates of the Ag Farm than dissenters.  Jesse Johnson, a prominent Seminole
nursery operator and recognized today as the “Father of Seminole”, was not only influential in enlisting community
support but also gave freely of his time and resources, donating much of the landscaping, including varieties of
plants and palms, and even a mule named “Bud”.

“The Community support was contagious” Moore recollected. “Individuals and organizations were enthusiastic in
their efforts to assist.” Ambition in fact was a characteristic of all persons involved with the Ag Farm. Students in the
Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization were so diligent in an early campaign to sell Florida wildlife magazine
subscriptions that not only did they win a tractor and a Brahma bull for their school, but also a trip to Mexico.

The FFA organization was also quick to earn recognition from the state. In 1964, FFA Advisor Fred Body traveled
with his officers to the annual state meeting. Among his delegation was Haddie Belle Timberlake, the first female
member of SVEC’s FFA. When Body and his students walked into the meeting place, ”the president about
swallowed his gavel” said Body, “and I about got thrown out of the state.” Never before had there been a female in
the Florida Organization.

The school has seen continued expansion, growth and change. Spurred on by years of successful vocational
education, the late 1970’s saw SVEC introduce more hands-on courses in diesel mechanics and small-gas engine
classes. Still known affectionately by some as the Ag Farm, the school’s name was first changed to the Pinellas
Vocational Agriculture Center and in the late 1970's was renamed the Seminole Vocational Education Center. The
name isn’t all that’s changed.

In 1977 the Pinellas County School Board acquired the full 42 acres of property for the Center and by 1985, SVEC
was expanded again with construction of a facility which housed state-of-the-art classes and labs in electrical wiring,
carpentry, floral marketing, cabinet making and commercial arts. An administrative suite and conference room were
also a part of the addition.

In 1989 expansion occurred once again as SVEC became home to the TEAM program which facilitated a drop-out
prevention program. These english, science and math courses were specifically designed to help at-risk students
catch up on credits missed and help them graduate on time. For over fifteen years, SVEC staff helped hundreds of
students stay in school and earn their degrees.

Today’s SVEC is once again transforming itself. Programs include small and large animal veterinary sciences,
carpentry, electricity, commercial & digital arts, environmental technology, horticultural and energy solutions.
Today’s SVEC is geared towards the serious, career focused student who often remain in classes at our school for
multiple levels over several years of their high school education. SVEC now offers industry certification via the
carpentry, electricity and commercial arts classes and is currently home to an active (and the only) FFA chapter in
Pinellas County. Students taking our Trade and Industrial courses are also automatically registered as SkillsUSA
members and eligible to compete in Regional, State and National competitions. The 2010 – 2011 school year saw
SVEC students win more gold and silver medals in regional, state and National SkillsUSA competition than ever
before. SVEC also had a National first place winner in t-shirt design. FFA students also took top honors in the
Florida State Fair livestock competitions and regularly place in top spots during State FFA competitions.

Class Offered At SVEC through the years
Agriculture  1961 - 1982 (Became Horticulture / Environmental Tech)
Cabinetmaking  1961 – 1989
Carpentry  1961 – Present
Commercial Arts   1984 – Present
Computer Electronics  1997 - 2006
Criminal Justice (Adult Night School) - Mid 1970's - Late 1980's
Diesel Mechanics   1977 – 2008
Electrical Wiring  1962 – Mid 1970’s
Horticulture  1977 – Present
Floral Marketing  1984 – 2010
Environmental Technology 1986 – Present
Entrepreneurship   2005 – 2007
Masonry  1961 – 1982
Office Skills  1970’s (Adult Night School)
Small Gas Engines   1977 – 2007
Veterinary Sciences Large 1983 – Present
Veterinary Sciences Small 1983 – Present

From 1962 – 1969, principals at Seminole High School and Largo High School served a dual role as directors of
what was then the Ag Farm. These principals included Stanley Moore, Francis Pfost, Nicholas G. Mangin and Scott
Rose.

SVEC Directors:
John Hill               
Richard Sanders  
Donald Bitting    
Chip Snare  
Mathias Fischer
Peter D. Berry
Barbara Clare  
VINTAGE SVEC NEWS ARTICLES
1969 – 1973
1973 – 1978
1978 – 1988
1988 – 1999
2000 – 2010
2010 – 2011
2011 - Present