Agriculture Education Background

Why Agriculture and Natural Resources Education/FFA?

- Agriculture encompasses production of food, fiber, wood products, horticultural crops, and other plant and animal products and includes:

• Financing, processing, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products

• Farm production supply and service industries

• Health, nutrition, and food consumption

• Application of science

• Use and conservation of land and water resources

• Development and maintenance of recreational resources

• Related economic, sociological, political, environmental, and cultural characteristics of the food and fiber system

- Agricultural literacy extends to all students, who should receive systematic instruction about agriculture beginning in kindergarten and continuing through grade 12. Agriculturally literate people:

• Know about food and fiber production, processing, food safety, and domestic and international marketing;

• Understand the impact of agriculture on the environment.

• Have practical knowledge about lawns, gardens, and recreational areas; and

• Have practical knowledge about caring for animals, especially household pets.

- People who choose agriculture as a career will be interested in agricultural education as well as agricultural literacy. An agricultural education program:

• Provides classroom, workplace learning, and activities with the Wisconsin Association of FFA (FFA), a student Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that connects students with agricultural issues in their community. The Wisconsin FFA currently has almost 18,000 members.

• Allows students to connect their learning within the context of agricultural systems which provide added opportunities for entrepreneurship made possible through a 40-day extended contract during the summer months for agricultural education instructors.

The Agricultural Education Team serves over 300 agricultural instructors, representing over 250 agricultural education departments statewide, teaching over 47,000 students in grades 6-12. Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Agricultural Education is available for download, see below under "Resources".

Work-based Learning Options. - Through the Agriculture Education/FFA program, students have many opportunities to develop their career interests in a variety of ways.

• Supervised Agriculture Experience Programs or Internships in Agriculture.   Hands-on applications of concepts and principles learned in the classroom. Students in agriculture education should be engaged in an experience program or internship that is related to their agricultural career interests. Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers who team with parents, employers and other adults to assist in the development and achievement of educational and career goals:

• The experience program or internship can be whatever the student wants it to be--an agri-business and/or related project they develop or placement in agriculturally-related work;

• The experience program or internship will help students select a career, secure employment, or prepare for further education;

• The experience program or internship is designed cooperatively by the student, advisor, and parents.

• The experience program or internship is recognized by the FFA through a variety of awards and incentives.

• State Certified Co-Op -  This is a one-year program for juniors or seniors interested in the exciting field of agribusiness. Students work in agribusinesses that support the plant or animal industry and master competencies related to sales, customer relations, marketing, and plant or animal science. Competencies are taught in the classroom and demonstrated on the worksite.
• Production Agriculture Youth Apprenticeship This is a rigorous two-year elective program that combines academic and technical classroom instruction with mentored on-the-job learning for high school students.

For questions about this information, contact Jeffrey A. Hicken (608) 267-9255

Last updated on 8/26/2008 2:10:00 PM