Oklahoma Agricultural Education...It's What you Need!

What is Ag Ed?
Facts About Ag Ed
What Courses Are Available in Ag Ed?
Suggested Guidelines for Ag Ed Facilities

What is Agricultural Education?

Agricultural Education is one of the most unique programs available to students.  Although the topics are agriculture-related, the skills and knowledge learned are valuable to any student.  Whether you are college-bound or career-minded, Agricultural Education can give you the tools to be a step ahead of your classmates.

Agricultural Education consists of three elements:

Organized instruction is classroom instruction.  Students are presented content and concepts that are carried out in a laboratory, shop, greenhouse, school farm, the extended classroom or on field trips.  Agricultural Education classrooms across Oklahoma are rapidly becoming technology and multi-media driven.  Today, students are presented information on both computer and multimedia equipment.  PowerPoint lessons, information via the Internet, and live demonstrations displayed in living color are prominent in Ag Ed classrooms.

Supervised agricultural experience (SAE) can be described as experiencing life applications.  As a part of the agricultural education program, students are encouraged to invest their time and sometimes money into a life application activity that aligns with their interests and career goals.  These activities are supervised by the agricultural education instructor.   SAEs could include leadership and public speaking, home and/or farmstead improvement projects, horticulture, gardening, livestock production, team competition, poultry production, specialty crop or animal, on-the-job training, agriscience research project, or a number of other interesting areas.  Students are encouraged to maintain their SAE while they are enrolled in agricultural education.  This will allow them to continually apply the information used in the classroom to improve their SAE.

FFA activities are the third leg of the agricultural education program.  Students enrolled in ag ed are expected to take part in the FFA activities.  Not becoming involved in some type of FFA activity would be like only adding part of the ingredients to make a cake.  FFA activities include community projects, school improvement projects, livestock show projects, competitive team events called career development events (CDEs), FFA chapter fun activities, leadership camps and conferences, and many more.

The close correlation between classroom instruction, supervised experiences and FFA activities makes agricultural education a unique opportunity for students.  You will have no other class like it.

Facts About Agricultural Education in Oklahoma

• 356 programs, 435 instructors
• 25,209 students enrolled
• 55% of ag ed students graduating from high school go on to attend college
• 96% of ag ed students completing the program go on to college, get a job, or enter the military
• Oklahoma ag ed students receive more than $100,000 in college scholarships directly linked to their experience in ag ed.
• Agricultural education is supported by some the largest businesses and industries in Oklahoma.
• Oklahoma businesses and industries actively seek and recruit agricultural education students for jobs.

What Courses are Available in Agricultural Education?

The agricultural education curriculum is centered around a core of basic knowledge relating to agriculture, agriscience, and agribusiness.  Five major areas of study surround this core of basic skills: 

• Animal Science 
• Plant Science/Agronomy/Natural Resources/Horticulture
• Ag Power and Technology
• Marketing/Agribusiness
• Ag Communications.

All agricultural education courses are designed to be hands-on.  What is hands-on learning?  Think about how you learned to ride a bike.  Did you learn how by reading about it or did you learn by watching? Probably not!  More than likely you learned by someone explaining how to ride a bike, watching someone ride a bike and then by actually doing it.  This is hands-on learning. The emphasis is placed on practicing with your hands what you learned in the classroom. 

All agricultural education courses use hands-on learning to teach concepts in math, science, communication, and career skills that will amaze even your friends.  The course list is as follows:

(Note: Not all programs offer all these courses.  Check with your agricultural education instructor for more information.)

Agricultural Orientation (8th grade)

The eighth-grade curriculum is an introduction to the world of agriculture and how it effects our daily lives.  Students will explore a wide variety of subject areas including animal science, plant science, leadership and communication, food science, natural resources and many others.

Agriscience I and II

Agriscience I and II are introductory courses that introduce students to the broad scope of agriculture and ag related industries.  In addition, the topics and subject matter covered in Agriscience I and II will prepare students for further study in any of the five core subject areas.  (Agriscience I is a prerequisite for all ag ed courses other than 8th grade Ag Orientation)

Animal Science I and II

Students learn information, knowledge, and skills associated with careers in animal production and animal science.  This curriculum provides laboratory, lecture, and competitive activities through the FFA to students interested in veterinary medicine, livestock production and nutrition, genetics, and laboratory techniques.

Equine Management and Production I and II

Students learn information and practical skills related to basic equine care production and management.

Agricultural Power and Technology I, II and III

Curriculum provides information about the selection, operation, maintenance, and use of agricultural power, electronics, electricity, agricultural machinery and equipment, structures and utilities, soil and water management, and agricultural mechanics, including welding and cutting.  (Agriculturel Power and Technology III can be offered only in multiple-teacher departments.)

Principles of Agricultural Technology

Both the complexity of modern technology and the rapidity with which it changes are creating new challenges for agricultural education.  Training in a single energy system is no longer enough.  Each agricultural educator must understand the mechanical, electrical, thermal, and fluid systems that make up modern agricultural equipment.  Skills specific to a current job are no longer adequate for a lifetime career.  Agricultural educators must understand the "principles" on which their work is based and be able to use that understanding to adapt as their work changes.

Plant and Soil Science I and II

Curriculum focuses on knowledge, information, and skills related to the sciences of plant production and agronomy.  The organized curriculum carried out through lecture, application, and experience provides the necessary basic skills for careers in horticulture, agricultural production and management, and science.

Horticulture I, II, and III

These courses focus on the culture of plants in greenhouses and other controlled environments.  Students learn competencies important in establishing, maintaining, and managing ornamental horticulture enterprises. (Horticulture III can be offered only in multiple-teacher departments.)

Forestry I and II

Curriculum deals with the multiple use of forest lands and resources, including their management and protection.

Environmental Science and Natural Resources

Curriculum emphasizes the principles and processes involved in conserving and/or improving natural resources such as air, water, land, wildlife, habitat, forestry, and energy for economic and recreational purposes.  Competencies include the establishment, management, and operation of land for recreational uses.

Agricultural Economics I and II

Students study this cluster to learn knowledge and skills directly related to employment in agricultural sales and service, agricultural marketing, and agribusiness.

Agricultural Communications I and II

Students interested in the field of communications learn the skills necessary for an entry-level position in the industry and develop the knowledge base to continue into a related college degree program.  Areas of study include oral and written communication, radio, television, and electronic media.

Aquaculture

The focus of the aquaculture curriculum is on fish production, nutrition, marketing, and water quality.  The aquaculture course is recommended for students interested in fish production or a career in wildlife management or outdoor recreation.

Food Science Technology

This course introduces students to the applications and science of food and food processing and production.  Students will learn scientific principles and practice scientific applications related to the food industry.

Employment in Agribusiness I and II*

Employment in Agribusiness is designed for worksite learning experiences.  Students have the opportunity to practice specific career skills.  In addition, this course will allow students to receive scholastic credit for time spent in the workplace. NOTE: Work-site learning locations must relate to the agricultural curriculum.

*Students who are employed at least 10 hours a week may receive one credit for classroom activities plus one additional credit for work-site learning.  Students who are employed at least 10 hours a week may be released for up to two hours of the school day.

(Ag Ed Home Page)

Page updated 06/21/2006
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