Agriculture Courses
Agricultural Education consists of three segments: (1) classroom instruction, (2) leadership development (FFA), and (3) experiential learning. Each class in the agricultural department contains each of these segments. Students do NOT need to have an agricultural background to enroll in an agricultural course or be in FFA. Any student wanting to participate in FFA must be enrolled in at least one agriculture class per school year. All courses are one trimester in length with the exception of Ag Business.
Course Descriptions
Intro to Agriculture
Grade level(s) offered to: 9 - 10th grade
Course description: Intro to Agriculture is the foundation course for each agricultural pathway. In this course, the student will develop a deeper understanding of the three segments of agricultural education: (1) classroom learning, (2) FFA, and (3) experiential learning. Students will enhance their communication skills and laboratory procedures while discovering the pathways within agriculture.
Animal Science : Production
Grade level(s) offered to: 9-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Agriculture
Course description: This course is designed to provide students with a general overview of the livestock industry. Students will learn about historic and current trends impacting the industry. Units will also go in depth into the different types of livestock and practices specifically related to that industry. Students will also become familiar with the economic and social issues that confront the livestock industry.
*Must take Animal Science Production and Body Systems and Nutrition to count as science credit
Animal Science : Nutrition
Grade level(s) offered to: 9-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Agriculture & AnSci Production
Course description: AnSci Nutrition is seen as an extension of the AnSci Production course. Students participating will experience various animal science concepts with hands-on activities, projects, and problems. Students’ experiences will involve the study of livestock body systems including anatomy and physiology and their systems play a factor into nutrition.
*Must take Animal Science Production and Nutrition to count as science credit
Animal Science : Genetics
Grade level(s) offered to: 10-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Ag, AnSci Production & AnSci Nutrition
Course description: Animal Science Genetics is for students wanting to dive deeper into the animal science industry. This course ties together information learned in the previous two courses as we investigate reproduction, genetics, selection, and diseases that impact animal production.
Plant Science
Grade level(s) offered to: 9-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Agriculture
Course description: Student experiences will include the study of plant anatomy and physiology, classification, propagation, hydroponics, growing environment, and the fundamentals of production. Students will discover the value of plant production and its impact on the individual, the local, and the global economy.
Horticulture
Grade level(s) offered to: 9-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Agriculture & Plant Science
Course description: An expansion of the plant systems pathway for students with a strong interest in horticulture. This course will be split into three different industries including greenhouse management, horticulture, and landscape design. Students will manage the production of the greenhouse for the plant sale in the spring. Additionally, students will create floral arrangements and discover the steps in creating their own landscape design.
Agronomy
Grade level(s) offered to: 9-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Agriculture & Plant Science
Course description: As an expansion of the plant systems pathway, this course focuses on crops produced in Iowa and the United States. Other topics include soils, identification, management practices, anatomy, and growth. Part of this class will be assisting the management and running of the FFA Crop Plot.
Agriculture Business A & B
Grade level(s) offered to: 10th-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Recommended pathway capstone
Course description: Agriculture Business introduces students to business management in agriculture. Throughout the course are practical and engaging activities, projects, and problems to develop and improve business and employability skills. Additionally, students investigate and develop viable business plans in order to solve local problems. The knowledge and skills students develop can be used within multiple pathways of study including those outside agriculture industries.
Ag Products
Grade level(s) offered to: 10th-12th grade
Recommended Prerequisite: Intro to Ag & Plant Science OR Animal Science Production
Course description: Throughout this course students will gain a working knowledge of agricultural commodities and how they are produced and processed. Students will dive into current agricultural issues including misconceptions and mislabeling of products as well as addressing food security and sustainability.