Ag in the classroom
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Center
Beef
Commercial Horticulture
Local Food Systems
Sustainable Agriculture
During the 2009-2010 academic calendar year Vocational Agriculture Education was removed from the Elliott County School system. During the 2015-2016 school year one vocational agriculture course was offered to Elliott County High School student's grades 9-10. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture there is 56,336 acres of farmland in Elliott County involved in some type of agriculture practice. Therefore, the CEC, Ag Council, Farmer's Market Council, Soil Conservation Board and Kentucky Farm Bureau Board felt that Agriculture in the school system was extremely important.
Student's academic performance will improve because of their exposure to hands on Ag in the classroom activities.
Student's will engage with one another and their peers and link the Ag in the classroom lessons with what the teacher has been teaching during lectures and throughout the school year.
Student's enrolled in a vocational agriculture course will increase their knowledge on basic agriculture concepts.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge on basic agriculture concepts
Indicator: Students academic performance will increase and will join agriculture clubs
Method: Grade Point average will increase
Timeline: Academic calendar year
Intermediate Outcome: Students will engage with peers and will link Ag in the classroom lessons with there school curriculum
Indicator: Students academic performance will increase, students will be more involved in school clubs and after school clubs and will join FFA.
Method: Grade point average will increase and will do pre and post test evaluations and use extension evaluations as test questions for students exams
Timeline: Academic calendar year
Long-term Outcome: Student's academic performance will improve because of Ag in the classroom programming
Indicator: Students grade point average will increase, they will be members of FFA and other school clubs, students will apply for scholarships and begin applying to universities and vocational schools and seeking employment opportunities after high school graduation.
Method:Grade point average will increase, ACT scores will increase, professionalism will increase, Resume and cover letter will become more professional with added school clubs and community involvement, pre and post test scores will increase with added knowledge and test taking skills will improve.
Timeline: Academic calendar year
Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School
Project or Activity: Where your food comes from (Meat Science)
Content or Curriculum: KFB and University of Kentucky 4-H Livestock Kit
Inputs: UK Extension Specialist, UK Animal Scientist, Ag agent, vocational agriculture instructor and Field Trips
Date: August thru December and January thru March
Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School
Project or Activity: FFA Gardens/compost barns/greenhouses
Content or Curriculum: Gardening/Junior Master Gardner
Inputs: Ag agent, Farmer's Market vendors and vocational agriculture instructor
Date: April-October
Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School
Project or Activity: Animal Science (Genetics, Livestock Production)
Content or Curriculum: Oklahoma Ag in the classroom, UK 4-H Livestock Kit, demonstrations and lectures
Inputs: Ag agent, vocational agriculture instructor, Field Trip to Kentucky State Fair, North American International Livestock Expo and National Farm Machinery Show
Date: October-February
Author: Keith Center
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
Eastern Kentucky has the highest food insecurity in the United States. In Elliott County 1,610 individuals (21.0%) of the county population are not sure where their next meal will come from. There is a steady increase in interest from clientele wanting to know how they can become more self-sufficient by growing their own food. Furthermore, Elliott County is a rural county that has at least a 30 minute drive to a city with a large supermarket. With that being said there are 363 farms in Elliott C