By Nick Schiltz
AHS Agriculture Instructor
Did that agriculture is America’s largest employer with near 23 million workers working to feed, gasoline, and dress the world? In reality, many take into account agriculture the spine of the economic system, a sentiment shared throughout Mower County and the higher Austin group, the place the agriculture sector has a huge effect on the livelihoods and financial footprints throughout our space.
At Austin Public Schools, we’re persevering with to develop opportunities for college students to study this pivotal a part of our economic system. The college students in Austin FFA have been very busy growing their agricultural, meals, and pure assets (AFNR) data whereas additionally growing their management abilities. Each yr, the Austin FFA chapter participates in the Third Grade Day On The Farm, serving as group leaders in an occasion that pulls all APS, Pacelli, and Lyle third grade college students to study crops, animals, and future profession opportunities in agriculture.
An indicator of our curriculum is experiential studying. Our college students regularly go on subject journeys to use what they be taught in the classroom and spark pursuits in the totally different sides of AFNR. Inside of FFA, college students have the chance to place their data of various AFNR subjects to the check by competing in Career Development Events (CDEs) with different FFA college students throughout Region 8 FFA and/or on the Minnesota State FFA stage.
How do college students develop their management growth abilities? Not solely do FFA college students function officers in the FFA chapter, however they’ll additionally take part in talking, presentation, and occasions that spark teamwork and cooperation abilities via Leadership Development Events (LDEs). Similar to CDEs, college students additionally compete with different college students throughout Region 8 FFA and/or on the Minnesota State FFA stage.
How else do college students apply what they be taught in the true world? Supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) permit college students to take a ability they discovered in class or from prior experiences or pursuits and develop a particular examine/analysis right into a undertaking. Working in tandem with their FFA advisors and different group leaders, SAEs are an important element of AFNR/FFA schooling. In the AHS class Intro to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR), college students full a number of SAEs throughout the college yr, growing their undertaking-based mostly/capstone studying abilities. In FFA, college students could formally submit SAEs for awards throughout Region 8 FFA and on the Minnesota State FFA ranges.
Agriculture and meals will all the time be a big element of the Mower County and Austin communities. Our college students who’re part of the AHS Ag Ed/FFA applications are growing into future leaders who will assist design options to how we feed, dress, and gasoline the world.