Agricultural Educationin

Mecklenburg County“A TRADITION OF TEAMWORK”

It is not required that students take Agriculture at the middle

school level in order to take the classes at the high school.

However; the students that do start there help to form a

foundation based on skills and a working knowledge of the FFA.

This helps the high school teacher to explain opportunities

to the other students.

A successful High School Agriculture Program depends greatly on a successful Middle School program.

Recruitment is a crucial part of the Agriculture program. We actually start

recruiting as early as the 4th grade during our Food for America

programs. Through the 6th 7th and 8th grade classes, students learn about

many aspects of Agriculture. Students are shown how to take advantage of opportunities at the high school level both in the classroom and in the FFA

Chapter.

The transition from the Middle School to the High School Agriculture Program should be a smooth one. For the Agriculture students in Mecklenburg County our students feel as if they are

still in the same department even if they are at a different campus. The departments throughout the county work well

together to ensure success for our students.

The vision of Agricultural Education in Mecklenburg County is much the same as the overall mission of The National FFA Organization. We are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

So How do we do that?

This is a “Get your hands dirty “ kind of class.

The dirt washes off, but what you learn stays with you.

Learning to DoDoing to Learn

Earning to Live and Living to Serve

Agricultural Education uses a hands-on, competency-based

approach that teaches skills and concepts that are useful and

practical .

Agricultural Educationin

Mecklenburg County“A TRADITION OF TEAMWORK”

CLASSROOM

FFASAE

SUPERVISED AGRICULTURE EXPERIENCE

Agriculture Classes offered at the High School Level

• Foundations of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (Ag1)• Introduction to Animal Systems (Ag 2)• Ag Production Technology (Ag. 3)

– Completer level with a certification (75% pass rate)• Introduction to Horticulture• Greenhouse Mgt.

– Completer level cert. available• Small Engine Repair

Suggestions for a 3 year plan:Add a Dual Enrollment Forestry Class to the high school schedule. Forestry is a major industry in Mecklenburg County with lots of forestland to be harvested and planted as well as several businesses that process forest products.

Small Engine Repair

Welding and Metal workBasic woodworking, MIG Welding and Oxy fuel welding are also part of the Agriculture curriculum in most of these classes. Our students learn basic skills to become good homeowners and quite a few have gone on to begin careers in these fields.

FFA Accomplishments across the county.

5 State FFA Officers 3 National Proficiency Award finalists9 State Winning Public Speakers1 National runner up public speaker1 State Star Farmer2 State Star AgribusinessmenNumerous Area Proficiency Award Winners3 State Winning Forestry teamsNumerous Superior Chapter awardsState Computer Applications AwardAnd many more……..

Countless teams competing in a variety of local, state and national contests (called Career Development Events or CDEs).

Bluestone FFA Chapter PresidentZach Sullivan

Bluestone FFA ChapterDalton Campbell

Bluestone FFA Chapter ReporterKathryn Eckler

Jonathan Bailey

Southside Area Star Agribusinessman and Star Farmer AwardErik Obst and Kimberly Pittard

In-class laboratory projects

Agriscience Fair at the South Central Fair

Junior Division

Building THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE

The Incredible Machine determined “How many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop”.

Erik Obst studied which fish food provides the best growth and color for his Koi farm.

These Lab projects often involve the SAE projects that students are

involved with at home

Collaboration with other classes

• Students on a frequent basis get to perform the skills they have learned in a practical setting here at the school– Landscaping the grounds of the schools– Repairing and building a wide variety of athletic equipment and the

facilities for the sports teams– Aiding the art department in building hanging frames for art exhibit– The Biology classes can use the greenhouse for studying plants– Soil samples with the Earth Science classes– Plant wars a competition between teachers to see who can raise the best plant over 10 weeks

– Endless possibilities

Community Service Projects

Ag Mechanics classes construct rocking horses each year for Toys for Tots

Students built benches and the FFA donated them to the YMCA soccer program

Bluestone FFA ChapterWatt Pittard

FOOD FOR AMERICA

Agriculture students teach elementary students about what you can do in a greenhouse.

Room for improvement?

•Both ends of the county could make a long list of equipment that would update our program. •Additional welders, Updated irrigation equipment for the greenhouses, Small animal lab at the middle schools, a full Land lab are all things that would add to an “IDEAL” Agriculture program. •As it stands we are doing a good job teaching the basics of today’s Food and Fiber system. Improve our certification rate and continue to search for more certification•Must promote better, recruit more, and our program must showcase our students to the general public even more than we do. •Add a DE Forestry class through Dabney Lancaster•Continue to grow our Middle school programs and keep our High School programs healthy.