Scientific Wreaths

Scientific Wreaths?  Well almost.

Students decorated wreaths as a fundraiser this past December and we even made a couple from scratch.  And yes, some of use have a hard time taking off our lab coat after our in class lab is complete.  We thank all those that supported our Somerset FFA Chapter in making a purchase.

Agriculture teachers are becoming harder to find.  There is a shortage of trained agriculture teachers in the U.S. and across the globe.  in 2016 there were roughly 57 ag teacher positions to fill in the northeast region according to NAAE's Teach Ag Campaign.

Two Students from Somerset Ag Science attended the NJ FFA Teach Ag Event held at Rutgers on a snowy Saturday in December. Students learned about the shortage of ag teachers, what the job requirements are, where to get the training, and some expert advice from current and past ag teachers.  Students attending also brought home some "Teach Ag Swag" a kit with t-shirt, portfolio, and other items to inspire students to pursue a degree in Agriculture Education. 

Our Biotech students recently completed a gene insertion project.  Students inserted a gene for bioluminescence taken from jellyfish and they inserted into a bacteria.  They then cultured the bacteria to produce the bioluminescent protein, extracted the protein from the bacteria, and purified the protein as is shown below.

We also used some sidewalk chalk to review the steps and procedures of this long process.

Recruiting new students is an important part of maintaining a program.  Bottom line is, the best way to recruit is to have great support and have students do the talking for you.  Very simple, but very, very true!  Thank you everyone!

Our first year students in our Intro to Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR) class, completed a unit where they learned about water quality and maintaining the quality.  Seen below here the students are performing an activity exploring point source and non-point source pollution and how topography impacts pollutant movement.

One the goals of our ambitious FFA chapter this year is to reach a goal of logging 200 hours of community service through planned events.  So far about five students have participated and logged about 70 hours.  Once the goal of 200 hours is met, by March 30th, our chapter can apply for and earn recognition for dedicating our time, service, and talents to others that need support.  Please watch for announcements of future community service activities and help us reach our goal! Below are several students participating in an Operation Shoebox event in December.