Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
The Agriculture,
Food, and Natural Resources career cluster focuses on
supporting life by ensuring that we are responsibly managing our
food production and natural resources. These areas supply us and
many other countries with a wide variety of food and nonfood
products, such as fibers, natural resources, and nursery items.
These fields contribute positively to our foreign trade balance,
and they remain some of the nation's larger industries in terms of
total employment. This cluster focuses on preparing you for careers
in the planning, implementing, producing, managing, processing, and
marketing of agricultural goods and services.
Webster
County Career and Technology Center course offerings in this
pathway include:
Agriculture
Technology and Mechanical Systems Core is an
instructional program designed to provide basic skills for students
to become employed in the industry of agricultural power mechanics
or to continue their education in postsecondary institutions.
Skills taught in this pathway relate to the selection, operation,
service, maintenance, and repair of a variety of agricultural power
units and agricultural machinery and equipment. Students in the
pathway will participate in active learning exercises including
integral activities of the FFA organization and supervised
experiences.
Agriculture
Power and Machinery pathway is a curriculum that
provides an educational option for students who have successfully
completed the Agriculture Power and Machinery Core (2 Carnegie
credits). Agriculture Power and Machinery is a pathway designed to
provide basic skills for students to become employed in the
industry of agricultural power mechanics or to continue their
education in postsecondary institutions. Skills taught in this
pathway relate to the selection, operation, service, maintenance,
and repair of a variety of agricultural power units and
agricultural machinery and equipment. This pathway also includes
instruction in gasoline and diesel engines, welding, hydraulics,
and other power systems. Students in the pathway will participate
in active learning exercises including integral activities of the
FFA organization and supervised experiences. Students who
successfully complete the competencies in this pathway will possess
fundamental knowledge and skills that can be used to secure
entry-level employment or as a foundation for continuing their
education.
Forestry
I is designed to introduce the student to the forest
industry and forestry careers in Mississippi. The first year topics
include Exploring the World of Forestry, Leadership/FFA Activities,
Forest Safety, Tree Growth and Stand Development, Dendrology,
Forest Surveying and Mapping, Legal Land Descriptions, Tree and Log
Measurements, and Introduction to Timber Cruising.
Forestry
II is a continuation of Forestry I with additional
emphasis on Identifying Forests and Forest Products, Employability
Skills/FFA Activities, Forest Management Practices, Advanced Timber
Cruising, Timber Marketing, Timber Harvesting, Reforestation,
Forest Fire Management, and Forest Insects and Diseases. Graduates
may become employed at the entry level or pursue careers in
Forestry, Agriculture, Agribusiness, or Natural Resources Education
in postsecondary or higher education.
Content of
the Forestry course has been aligned to the 2010 Mississippi
Science Curriculum Framework. Students who successfully complete
the first and second year Forestry curriculum will
receive two elective science credits that
will count toward high school science graduation
requirements.