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Class Descriptions

Courses in agriculture are developed around the students' supervised occupational experience program (project), the prevailing agriculture in the community, and the science requirements established by the State Department of Education. Some classes may include a fee to cover cost of materials used by the students.

All students enrolled in this program are eligible to be a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA), a national, state, and local organization. The FFA, as it is called, trains students in leadership and cooperation.

In the event that enrollment in a given year does not justify offering all of the courses listed on the curriculum, students may interrupt the normal sequence of courses by arranging with the instructor to take alternate courses in agriculture at the school farm.

NOTE:
    Students enrolled in the agriculture programs at the farm must enroll in a two period block program. The block can consist of two science classes or science and one shop class.
    All students in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade who enroll in a two period block program will be transported to the District Farm from their respective high school.
    Agriculture is open to all students. In case of over enrollment, priorities will be established by principals and counselors on the basis of student vocational goals.
    Students who enroll in agriculture may substitute two years of agriculture science for biology to meet the biological laboratory science requirement. One year of Natural Resources and Physical Science will meet the one year physical science requirement.
    Three years of agriculture mechanics meets the fine arts requirement for graduation.
    All agriculture science courses meet the CSU requirements for electives.

Animal & Veterinarian Careers
This course covers orientation to the animal care and veterinary medicine fields. It will include career research and job seeking skills, work ethic/etiquette, safety and universal health precautions, medical terminology, animal behavior/handling/restraint, animal anatomy and physiology, nutrition, microbiology and parasite identification, pathology, common surgical procedures, laboratory procedures, vaccine types and administration, vital signs and emergency procedures.
This worked experience can be used as a prerequisite for admission to animal health technician programs and schools of veterinary medicine.

Agriculture Mechanics
Mechanics I: Students work with hand and power tools, acetylene and arc welding. Construction of projects in wood and metal are required. A shop fee will be charged.
Mechanics II: Project construction in conjunction with the students supervised field study will be stressed. Included will be concrete and masonry, fencing, welding, painting, carpentry, plumbing, and power tool use. This course includes practical experience at the district Farm and must be taken concurrently with Plant Science and Soils.
Mechanics III: This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of engines, pumps, electric motors, welding, cultivation, planting, and harvesting equipment. Actual operation of tractors and equipment will be available at the District Farm. Individual and group project construction will also be taught.
Mechanics IV: New subject matter will include electrical wiring, motors, pumps, irrigation and surveying, and advanced welding. This course includes practical experience at the District Farm, and it must be taken concurrently with Agricultural Physical Science.

Plant Science
This course covers landscaping, house and forest plant identification; plant and tree structure, growth, propagation, pruning, and caring of plant materials. The soils unit will include soil types, structures, fertilization, irrigation, and cultivation. The inter-relation of plants, soils, and livestock will be stressed. This course must be taken concurrently with agriculture construction or animal science. Horse Husbandry
The student will receive knowledge and background in horse husbandry and farm management. The student will be employable in the equine management field. Emphasis will be placed on nutrition, anatomy and physiology, farm business practices, and marketing skills.

Natural Resources
This is a course that helps develop scientific concepts, skills, and attitudes. An emphasis is placed on soils, climate, fertilizers, the atmosphere, the ocean, energy, and geology. The scientific methods as a basis of inquiry and reasoning will be emphasized in laboratory type experiments. This course must be taken concurrently with Agriculture Engineering or Plant Science. Animal Science
Beef, sheep, swine, dairy cattle, horses, wildlife, and other animals will be studied. Included will be the study of breeds, feeds and feeding, care and management, genetics, selection, anatomy, diseases, and judging. This course must be taken concurrently with agriculture mechanics.

Animal & Veterinarian Careers This course covers orientation to the animal care and veterinary medicine fields. It will include career research and job seeking skills, work ethic/etiquette, safety and universal health precautions, medical terminology, animal behavior/handling/restraint, animal anatomy and physiology, nutrition, microbiology and parasite identification, pathology, common surgical procedures, laboratory procedures, vaccine types and administration, vital signs and emergency procedures. This worked experience can be used as a prerequisite for admission to animal health technician programs and schools of veterinary medicine.	Agriculture Mechanics Mechanics I: Students work with hand and power tools, acetylene and arc welding. Construction of projects in wood and metal are required. A shop fee will be charged. Mechanics II: Project construction in conjunction with the students supervised field study will be stressed. Included will be concrete and masonry, fencing, welding, painting, carpentry, plumbing, and power tool use. This course includes practical experience at the district Farm and must be taken concurrently with Plant Science and Soils. Mechanics III: This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of engines, pumps, electric motors, welding, cultivation, planting, and harvesting equipment. Actual operation of tractors and equipment will be available at the District Farm. Individual and group project construction will also be taught. Mechanics IV: New subject matter will include electrical wiring, motors, pumps, irrigation and surveying, and advanced welding. This course includes practical experience at the District Farm, and it must be taken concurrently with Agricultural Physical Science.
Plant Science This course covers landscaping, house and forest plant identification; plant and tree structure, growth, propagation, pruning, and caring of plant materials. The soils unit will include soil types, structures, fertilization, irrigation, and cultivation. The inter-relation of plants, soils, and livestock will be stressed. This course must be taken concurrently with agriculture construction or animal science.	Horse Husbandry The student will receive knowledge and background in horse husbandry and farm management. The student will be employable in the equine management field. Emphasis will be placed on nutrition, anatomy and physiology, farm business practices, and marketing skills.
Natural Resources This is a course that helps develop scientific concepts, skills, and attitudes. An emphasis is placed on soils, climate, fertilizers, the atmosphere, the ocean, energy, and geology. The scientific methods as a basis of inquiry and reasoning will be emphasized in laboratory type experiments. This course must be taken concurrently with Agriculture Engineering or Plant Science.	Animal Science Beef, sheep, swine, dairy cattle, horses, wildlife, and other animals will be studied. Included will be the study of breeds, feeds and feeding, care and management, genetics, selection, anatomy, diseases, and judging. This course must be taken concurrently with agriculture mechanics.