Where are we going?

We are going into the Trenches!

Plant Science Students have been busy preparing for study the properties of a soil pit.  They first learned about soil characteristics such as: texture and performing a ribbon test, identifying soil structure type and structure grade, permeability, porosity, and soil color.  They used all this info to make predictions about soil characteristics they would find in the soil pit seen below.  They also had to identify the soil horizons and determine the depth of each. Can you see how many soil layers there are and determine their depth?  Ask one of students to help and explain after you try.

Year one, Intro to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Students were busy preparing for another check for understanding.  They seem to like this method of studying so far.  No complaints yet and their grades have been great!  They do plenty of work in the classroom too and this tends to a creative break from the desk, computer, and classroom.  Look carefully and you can see the Plant Science students in the background performing their soil pit analysis.

Its Mum sale time!  We took orders for our fall flower sale this week and purchased over 50 mums.  Hoping to get more orders over the next two weeks so that we can match our yearly norm of over 100 pieces sold.  Ask one of our FFA / Agricultural Science students for an order form.

And we are going into the "Think Tank".  This year we have five students enrolled in our Agricultural Research and Development Course.  In the photo below, students performed a brainstorming activity where they wrote an agricultural problem and displayed for peers to post thought provoking questions and comments.  They are some great, exciting, and inspiring ideas being developed for research.  Check back to see progress on these research projects.

Starting off on the right hoof!

Welcome new students and families and returning students and families!  We have full enrollment again this year and a waiting list for new students to come in. The program continues to grow.

The tomatoes were growing very well over the summer, even without regular watering.  There were about 40 tomatoes that we sent to the Culinary Arts program and these have been used so far for students to prepare a tasting lunch for staff.

 

Year one or Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) students have been studying for tests and having fun while reviewing before a test.

Over the summer one of our first year AFNR students was accepted to be a USDA Ag Discovery participant.  Jayden attended a four week camp in Illinois and was exposed to many areas of agriculture that we don't get to see on a everyday basis.  In a 20 minute presentation Jayden made to the class, he strongly encouraged other students to apply since this experience provided him an incredible outlook for career opportunities for young Ag Science students.

Finally for this post, I was part of a virtual Book club over the summer to earn professional development hours.  The book was "The Innovator's Mindset" buy George Couros.  The group I read and inacteracted with regarding the readings was National Association of Agricultural Educators.  I found several areas that I have been looking to add, or do more with less, after being inspried by this book and other NAAE Ag teachers in the U.S.  I am interviewing students to find out what they are interesed in learning this school year, I am looking for ways for students to help increase the visibility of the Agricultural Science program (perhaps by students writing their own blogs), and give students a chance to receive feedback from peers and parents, and finally focus on student's strengths to build confidence and give them energy to tackle difficult tasks.  This book opened my eye to several opportunities I can implement to help students and the Ag Science program.  I hope the students are as excited about the school as I am!