Agricultural Science

Agricultural Education provides students with a solid foundation of
academic knowledge and ample opportunities to apply this knowledge
through classroom activities, laboratory experiments, project applications,
supervised agricultural experiences, and the FFA. The vision and mission
of Agricultural Education are: that all people value and understand the
vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in
advancing personal and global well-being; and that students are prepared
for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in agriculture.
The goals for Agricultural Science students focus on providing learning
experiences that will allow them to:

● Demonstrate desirable work ethics and work habits.
● Apply the basic agricultural competencies and background knowledge in agriculture and
related occupations.
● Analyze entrepreneurial, business, and management skills needed by students preparing to
enter agriculture and related occupations.
● Expand leadership and participatory skills necessary for developing productive and
contributing citizens in our democratic society.
● Be aware of career opportunities in agriculture and set career objectives.
● Acquire job-seeking, employability, and job-retention skills.
● Advance in a career through a program of continuing education and life-long learning.
● Recognize the interaction of agriculture with governments and economic systems at the
local, state, national, and international levels.
● Recognize how new technologies impact agriculture and how agriculture impacts the
environment.

It is important to understand and reaffirm that career-technical experiences do not preclude students
from going on to higher education; in fact, participation actually enhances the opportunity. A growing
number of students are combining both college preparation and workplace experiences in their high
school preparation. Agricultural Science and Business and the FFA programs have a long history of
successfully preparing students for entry-level careers and further education and training in the
science, business, and technology of agriculture. The programs combine classroom instruction and
hands-on career-focused learning to develop students’ potential for premier leadership, personal
growth, and career success.

FFA
The FFA is the career and technical education student organization that is an integral part of the
vocational program of instruction in agricultural education. The many activities of the FFA parallel the
methodology of the instructional program and are directly related
to the occupational goals and objectives. As an integral part of
the instructional program, district and state-level FFA activities
provide students opportunities to demonstrate their proficiency in
the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they have acquired through
the agricultural science and agricultural business total program.
Agricultural education students demonstrating a high degree of
competence in state-level FFA activities are highly encouraged to
represent their local communities, districts, and state by
participating in national FFA activities.
Instructional activities of the FFA require the participation of the agricultural science and agriculture
business education students as an integral part of an agricultural education course of instruction
and, therefore, may be considered appropriate use and amount of the allotted instructional time.
Courses

● Exploring Agriculture – 7th grade
● Introduction to Agriculture – 8th grade
● Principles of Agriculture
● Agribusiness Management (Dual Credit)
● Animal Science (Dual Credit)
● Advanced Life Science: Animals (Dual Credit)
● Horticultural Science (Dual Credit)
● Landscape Management (Dual Credit)
● Supervised Agricultural Experience

If you have any questions about the agriculture program please contact Teri Hornberger at
thornberger@fccsc.k12.in.us .