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.