Agricultural Education
The Agricultural Education Program is designed to meet the needs of all students interested in agricultural science, business, mechanics, and leadership. High school students may enroll in a variety of one-hour classes designed to increase their knowledge of agriculture and prepare them for a post-secondary education. These classes give students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning activities such as welding, transplanting cuttings, working with livestock, and giving sales presentations just to name a few. Agriculture is the largest single business in the world and continues to show rapid growth in the industry for goods and services. The Ag Ed program will give students the knowledge to compete in a field where they can obtain jobs with and without a college education. For those who wish to enroll in college, agriculture classes provide the leadership, communication skills, and broad based knowledge necessary to be successful in the academic arena.
Projects
Plant Propagation in the Greenhouse - Greenhouse
Feeding out and studying of Catfish raised in confinement - Bio Tech Class
Preparing and delivering a sales presentation – Ag Communication and Leadership
Designing and Building mineral feeders and deer stands – Ag Construction
Debating current issues using parliamentary procedure - Ag Science 1
Designing and planting wildlife food plots – Wildlife Conservation
Equipment
Fully Functional Greenhouse
Aquaponics tank and aeration system for raising fish
John Deere 5075 M tractor with attachments
10 Acre land lab
Shield Metal Arc welders
Certification
Students completing the agricultural education program will earn their certification in one of two possible ways. The first option is through successful participation in one of the twenty-five possible career development events through the FFA organization. These events allow students to compete as a team or individual in everything from communications to mechanics.
The second option is through participating in a NOCTI assessment in your focus area. NOCTI assessments are industry-based credentials based on the broad knowledge and skills that indicate job readiness in a particular area. Students may choose from twelve areas of focus.
Post-secondary
College Degree or Post-secondary options – You can earn dual credit towards a post-secondary degree in agriculture. You can use the knowledge and credit from the agriculture program towards a 2 year associates degree or a 4 year bachelor’s degree in the agriculture field.
Schools include:
Careers
Each year there are thousands of agricultural jobs that go unfilled or are filled by persons who are not trained in a field of agriculture. These range from seed sales persons, to pharmaceutical reps to farm managers and warehouse managers. Nearly everything we do has a tie to agriculture. Here are a few specific careers in the agriculture industry.
Animal Scientist – $54,290
Veterinarian – $75,230
Farm/Ranch Manager – $61,030
Grain Trader – $75,379
Grain Elevator Manager – $58,620
Heavy Machine Operator -- $42,150
