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PRATTSBURGH – FFA develops students into leaders through agriculture education. In a time of economic hardships, agriculture programs have become even more vital to giving students the skills they need in this changing world.
The Prattsburgh agriculture program and FFA have been working hard to exemplify why every school should have an agriculture program. Instructors at Prattsburgh look to enhance student knowledge and skills in agriculture as well as provide practical teaching for life. Agricultural instruction is different than any other kind of teaching in a high school setting; not all classes can boast that they teach skills that lead to jobs and a life of more sustainability and self-reliance.
There are endless benefits to having a student go through an agriculture program. The FFA motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve,” and its purpose is to create leaders for the future. Prattsburgh agriculture students and FFA members learn to build up skills in things such as tractor and backhoe operation, small engine repair, animal science, plant science, technology, field crop production, greenhouse operation and many other things within the curriculum. In the spring and fall, students are on the land lab learning by doing field, garden, and vineyard work. In the winter, the students are in the ag shop learning welding, woodworking, mechanics, greenhouse operation, incubation and a host of other skills. Agriculture requires many skills. Can there be any better career exploration than to learn these skills?
One skill that is taught in the agriculture program at Prattsburgh Central School is welding and metalwork. Many of the students graduate from high school and find out that in the work force even rudimentary skills are desired in many manufacturing companies. Skills learned in high school are valuable to the students, whether they go into a career that deals specifically with agriculture competencies or not.
Prattsburgh FFA operates a small vineyard and has recently installed raised bed garden plots. This gives many students the opportunity to learn about plant science. The vineyard is in its fourth year since being planted, so the vines are expected to produce in the upcoming season. Students learn about animal science in a hands-on way. With poultry, students incubate, care for, and raise chicks into adulthood. With dairy cattle, they learn to evaluate what characteristics a superior dairy cow has by judging and comparing them with other cows. Learning about ecology and science by experimenting and experiencing is just another way to embody the FFA motto.
The agriculture students have many projects on the horizon that are very unique to any school setting. Working with the USDA Living to Serve grant, they will study the advantages and disadvantages of wind, solar power, and biodiesel as an alternative energy. In class, students will experiment with the production of biodiesel. A small wind turbine will also be installed, as well as a solar panel to provide energy for the agriculture center. By the end of the year, the students hope to be lighting their greenhouse solely on this type of energy.
PRATTSBURGH – FFA develops students into leaders through agriculture education. In a time of economic hardships, agriculture programs have become even more vital to giving students the skills they need in this changing world.
The Prattsburgh agriculture program and FFA have been working hard to exemplify why every school should have an agriculture program. Instructors at Prattsburgh look to enhance student knowledge and skills in agriculture as well as provide practical teaching for life. Agricultural instruction is different than any other kind of teaching in a high school setting; not all classes can boast that they teach skills that lead to jobs and a life of more sustainability and self-reliance.
There are endless benefits to having a student go through an agriculture program. The FFA motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve,” and its purpose is to create leaders for the future. Prattsburgh agriculture students and FFA members learn to build up skills in things such as tractor and backhoe operation, small engine repair, animal science, plant science, technology, field crop production, greenhouse operation and many other things within the curriculum. In the spring and fall, students are on the land lab learning by doing field, garden, and vineyard work. In the winter, the students are in the ag shop learning welding, woodworking, mechanics, greenhouse operation, incubation and a host of other skills. Agriculture requires many skills. Can there be any better career exploration than to learn these skills?
One skill that is taught in the agriculture program at Prattsburgh Central School is welding and metalwork. Many of the students graduate from high school and find out that in the work force even rudimentary skills are desired in many manufacturing companies. Skills learned in high school are valuable to the students, whether they go into a career that deals specifically with agriculture competencies or not.
Prattsburgh FFA operates a small vineyard and has recently installed raised bed garden plots. This gives many students the opportunity to learn about plant science. The vineyard is in its fourth year since being planted, so the vines are expected to produce in the upcoming season. Students learn about animal science in a hands-on way. With poultry, students incubate, care for, and raise chicks into adulthood. With dairy cattle, they learn to evaluate what characteristics a superior dairy cow has by judging and comparing them with other cows. Learning about ecology and science by experimenting and experiencing is just another way to embody the FFA motto.
The agriculture students have many projects on the horizon that are very unique to any school setting. Working with the USDA Living to Serve grant, they will study the advantages and disadvantages of wind, solar power, and biodiesel as an alternative energy. In class, students will experiment with the production of biodiesel. A small wind turbine will also be installed, as well as a solar panel to provide energy for the agriculture center. By the end of the year, the students hope to be lighting their greenhouse solely on this type of energy.
The Prattsburgh agriculture program has also been involved with a project that will allow students to leave their mark in history. Working with GST BOCES, the PCS Math department and Ellis Island, the Prattsburgh Agriculture students will construct a bench that is a replica of the benches that millions of immigrants sat on while waiting to take their entrance exams into the United States. There will be a ceremony in New York City on Ellis Island in May to celebrate the construction of these benches and the history behind the old ones, with the chorus and band from PCS performing. A plate with Prattsburgh Central School’s name will adorn the benches, where they will stay on Ellis Island for the remainder of their life.
This semester, Prattsburgh also has welcomed a new student teacher that is very familiar with the area. Andrea Presher is a Prattsburgh Central graduate that is currently a senior at Oswego State University, pursuing a career in Agriculture Education for students in grades 7-12. She also has received an Associate’s Degree in Agricultural Technology with a concentration in Animal Science from Alfred State College.
Currently, she is working on a career module, which allows students to learn and experiment with many aspects of different careers. Students will research a career in the agriculture industry, become an expert and use public speaking and communication skills to convey the important aspects the career in a presentation.
They will then travel to the New York Farm Show in Syracuse to get a first-hand look at the agricultural industry. In addition, students will create a resume, business letter, and even perform mock interviews in order to get them more associated with the working world.
“FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” Just like the FFA mission statement supports, no matter what style of learner, or what future career path chosen, all students can benefit through agriculture education. Life skills with interdisciplinary projects can lead to successful careers and upstanding citizenship. The Prattsburgh Agriculture Program and FFA would like to thank the farmers and the community members that continue to support agriculture education.
