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1. Agricultural Education
in
Mecklenburg County
“A TRADITION OF TEAMWORK”

2. The transition from the Middle School to the High School
Agriculture Program should be a smooth one. For the Agriculture
students in Mecklenburg County our students feel as if they are
still in the same department even if they are at a different
campus. The departments throughout the county work well
together to ensure success for our students.
A successful High School Agriculture Program depends
greatly on a successful Middle School program.
It is not required that Recruitment is a crucial part of the
students take Agriculture at Agriculture program. We actually start
the middle school level in
order to take the classes at recruiting as early as the 4th grade
the high school. However; during our Food for America
the students that do start programs. Through the 6th 7th and 8th
there help to form a grade classes, students learn about
foundation based on skills
and a working knowledge of many aspects of Agriculture. Students
the FFA. This helps the high are shown how to take advantage of
school teacher to explain opportunities at the high school level
opportunities to the other both in the classroom and in the FFA
students.
Chapter.

3. The vision of Agricultural Education in Mecklenburg
County is much the same as the overall mission of
The National FFA Organization. We are dedicated
to making a positive difference in the lives of
students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth and career
success through agricultural education.
So How do we do that?

4. This is a “Get your hands dirty “ kind of
class.
Learning to Do
Agricultural Education uses a
Doing to Learn hands-on, competency-based
Earning to Live and approach that teaches skills and
Living to Serve concepts that are useful and
practical .
The dirt washes off, but what you learn
stays with you.

5. Agricultural Education
in
Mecklenburg County
“A TRADITION OF TEAMWORK”

6. Agriculture Classes offered at the High
School Level
• Foundations of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (Ag1)
• Introduction to Animal Systems (Ag 2)
• Ag Production Technology (Ag. 3)
– Completer level with a certification (75% pass rate)
• Introduction to Horticulture
• Greenhouse Mgt.
– Completer level cert. available Suggestions for a 3 year plan:
• Small Engine Repair Add a Dual Enrollment Forestry
Class to the high school
schedule. Forestry is a major
industry in Mecklenburg County
with lots of forestland to be
harvested and planted as well
as several businesses that
process forest products.

7. Small Engine Repair

8. Welding and Metal work
Basic
woodworking, MIG
Welding and Oxy fuel
welding are also part
of the Agriculture
curriculum in most of
these classes. Our
students learn basic
skills to become good
homeowners and
quite a few have gone
on to begin careers in
these fields.

9. FFA Accomplishments across the
county.
5 State FFA Officers
3 National Proficiency Award finalists
9 State Winning Public Speakers
1 National runner up public speaker
1 State Star Farmer
2 State Star Agribusinessmen
Numerous Area Proficiency Award Winners
3 State Winning Forestry teams
Numerous Superior Chapter awards
State Computer Applications Award
And many more……..
Countless teams competing in a variety of local, state and national contests
(called Career Development Events or CDEs).

10. Bluestone FFA Chapter President
Zach Sullivan

11. Bluestone FFA Chapter
Dalton Campbell

12. Bluestone FFA Chapter Reporter
Kathryn Eckler

13. Jonathan Bailey

15. Southside Area Star Agribusinessman and Star Farmer Award
Erik Obst and Kimberly Pittard

16. In-class laboratory projects

17. Agriscience Fair
at the South Central Fair

18. Junior Division

19. Building
THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE

20. The Incredible Machine determined
“How many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop”.

21. Erik Obst studied which fish food provides the
best growth and color for his Koi farm.

22. These Lab projects often involve
the SAE projects that students are
involved with at home

23. Collaboration with other classes
• Students on a frequent basis get to perform the skills they have learned in
a practical setting here at the school
– Landscaping the grounds of the schools
– Repairing and building a wide variety of athletic equipment and the
facilities for the sports teams
– Aiding the art department in building hanging frames for art exhibit
– The Biology classes can use the greenhouse for studying plants
– Soil samples with the Earth Science classes
– Plant wars a competition between teachers to see who can raise the best plant over 10 weeks
– Endless possibilities

24. Community Service Projects
Ag Mechanics classes construct rocking horses each year for
Toys for Tots

25. Students built benches and the FFA donated
them to the YMCA soccer program

26. Bluestone FFA Chapter
Watt Pittard

27. FOOD FOR AMERICA
Agriculture students teach elementary students about what you can
do in a greenhouse.

33. Room for improvement?
•Both ends of the county could make a long
list of equipment that would update our
program.
•Additional welders, Updated irrigation
equipment for the greenhouses, Small animal
lab at the middle schools, a full Land lab are
all things that would add to an “IDEAL”
Agriculture program.
•As it stands we are doing a good job teaching
the basics of today’s Food and Fiber system.
Improve our certification rate and continue to
search for more certification
•Must promote better, recruit more, and our
program must showcase our students to the
general public even more than we do.
•Add a DE Forestry class through Dabney
Lancaster
•Continue to grow our Middle school
programs and keep our High School programs
healthy.