Students in agriculture classes at the Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School have been involved in a variety of engaging activities already this school year.
“The agriculture classroom has been busy these first weeks of school,” Herkimer agriculture teacher Talia Baker said.
Herkimer Central School District offers various agriculture classes at the Jr./Sr. High School. For middle school, students in sixth grade can take an agriculture enrichment course to learn about the basics of where our food comes from, and every student in eighth grade will take Ag Tech8 for one quarter. In high school this year, agriculture classes offered are animal science; home maintenance; landscape design; and agriculture, food and natural resources. On alternate years, the offerings are vet science; horticulture; food production; and agriculture, food and natural resources
High school classes can count towards both general elective credit and science elective credit.
“The hope for these classes is to provide experiential learning through agriculture that helps students develop problem-solving skills for real-world problems,” Baker said. “All programs allow for students to participate in the afterschool agriculture club known as FFA. Using content learned in classes, students who participate in FFA further develop their leadership skills, can learn about career opportunities in the field of agriculture and how to become advocates for agriculture in their Herkimer community.”
To start off the school year, students in the animal science class have been learning about the five freedoms of animal welfare. They made dioramas and presented to classmates about animal welfare standards.
Meanwhile, sixth grade agriculture enrichment students helped pot propagated aloe plants given to the class by art teacher Leah Zorn.
Agriculture, food and natural resources classes participated in physical challenges to get to know each other better as part of a team-building activity.
Also in the agriculture classroom, students in the home maintenance class tested their skills of following directions by putting together bookshelves that will be raffled off to teachers in the building.
Students in the landscape design class learned about color theory and tested their knowledge with a game of “Hues and Cues.”
Those are just some examples of the agriculture learning and activities that have taken place thus far.
“I can’t wait to see what else these students create throughout this year,” Baker said.
Herkimer Central School District senior Abby O’Hara (in front) shows her diorama of a horse barn she made in animal science class. She explains to classmates what is needed to ensure animal welfare standards are being upheld.
A diorama of a horse barn made by Herkimer Central School District senior Abby O’Hara in animal science class. The class is learning about the five freedoms of animal welfare.
Herkimer Central School District students in the sixth grade agriculture enrichment class help pot propagated aloe plants given to the class by art teacher Leah Zorn.
Herkimer Central School District students in the home maintenance class put together bookshelves that will be raffled off to Jr./Sr. High School teachers. The project helps students practice following directions.
Herkimer Central School District students in the home maintenance class put together bookshelves that will be raffled off to Jr./Sr. High School teachers. The project helps students practice following directions.
Herkimer Central School District students in agriculture, food and natural resource classes participate in physical challenges designed to help the students with team building and getting to know each other.
Herkimer Central School District students in agriculture, food and natural resource classes participate in physical challenges designed to help the students with team building and getting to know each other.
Herkimer Central School District students in the landscape design class test their knowledge of color theory with a game of “Hues and Cues.”