To calculate the area of a rectangle, the formula is:

$\text{Area} = \text{Width} \times \text{Height}$

Given that the width and height are both 17 yards, we can substitute:

$\text{Area} = 17 \, \text{yd} \times 17 \, \text{yd} = 289 \, \text{square yards}$

So, the area is 289 square yards.

Would you like further details or explanations?

Here are some related questions for you to consider:

1. How would you calculate the area of a triangle with a base of 17 yards and a height of 17 yards?
2. What is the difference between area and perimeter?
3. How do you convert square yards to square feet?
4. What are the units used in calculating area for different shapes?
5. How do you calculate the area of a circle if the diameter is 17 yards?

Tip: Remember, when calculating area, the units of measurement for length (width, height) should be squared in the result.