Agriculture

Agricultural Education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.

Through agricultural education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:

  1. Classroom/Laboratory Instruction (contextual learning)
  2. Supervised Agricultural Experience programs (work based learning)
  3. National FFA Organization (student leadership organization)

Agricultural Education in West Virginia provides:

  1. Concentrations for students that cover the full range of the agriculture industry and include the following areas:
    • Power, Structural and Technical Systems
    • Agribusiness Systems
    • Natural Resources Systems
    • Plants Systems
    • Animal Systems
    • Animal Processing
    • Oil and Gas Extraction and Distribution
    • Forest Industry
    • Turf and Landscape Systems
    • Animal Systems - Vet Science
  2. Classroom experience that can be applied in real world situations through a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
    • SAEs consist of planned activities conducted outside of class time.
    • SAEs vary from student to student and allow flexibility to meet the needs and interest of each individual student.
    • SAEs are a chance for students to try something new, do research, get their hands dirty, or become an entrepreneur.
    • Students are supervised by teachers in cooperation with parents, employers, and other adults that assist them with their SAE goals.
    • 68% of agriculture students complete a SAE annually.

The combination of agriculture education, SAE, and FFA create a life changing learning experience for students across the nation.