Current agriculture courses offered at Hinckley - Big Rock Middle School and High School for the 2025-2026 academic year!
Middle School:
6th Grade STEAM
This course is a required exploratory for all 6th grade students that lasts one (1) Quarter. Students who take this course will be introduced to many concepts relating to Leadership, Careers, and Plant Science. The Leadership unit is focused on self reflection, teamwork, and critical thinking. Activities for the unit include personality tests, discussion on how to interact with different personalities, competitive games rooted in STEAM, and weekly self reflections. For the Careers unit, students will take a quiz that matches them to several different careers before deciding on one that they enjoy the most. They will research the job responsibilities, education/ training requirements, location, relation to agriculture. Students will present the information they have found to peers, along with quality pictures to represent the career and their final statements on if they consider themselves to have that career in the future. The Plant Science unit provides students with basic knowledge in plant cells, soils, seed parts, germination, nutrients, photosynthesis, flower parts, pollination, and seed formation.
7th Grade Agriculture
This course is offered as an elective exploratory offered to 7th Grade students for one (1) Quarter. Serving as an introductory course, students will learn basic agricultural knowledge and a variety of skills relating to Sustainability and Animal Science. The Sustainability unit is focused on understanding population growth, inventions contributing to society, agriculture history, sustainable products, marketing, and presentation skills. The Animal Science unit begins with a brief overview of domestication and how to care for small animals before diving into breed identification and traits. Students use this knowledge to create a new breed for an animal of their choice, providing key information as well as a 3-D model of the animal in its natural habitat.
8th Grade Agriculture
This course is offered as an elective exploratory offered to 8th Grade students for one (1) Quarter. Serving as an introductory course, students will learn basic agricultural knowledge and a variety of skills relating to Food Science and Electrical Wiring. The Food Science unit allows students to explore conducting a proper taste test, food processing, creating a food label, growing methods, American grown crops, and reading recipes. The Electrical Wiring unit covers tool identification, proper tool use, drawing schematics, electrical symbol identification, equipment identification, shop safety procedures, PPE, and wiring procedures.
High School:
Intro to Agriculture
This orientation course provides an opportunity for students to learn how the agricultural industry is organized; its major components; the economic influence of agriculture at state, national and international levels; and the scope and types of job opportunities in the agricultural field. Basic concepts in animal science, plant science, soil science, horticulture, natural resources, agribusiness management, and agricultural mechanics, will be presented. Improving computer and workplace skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This Class may be used towards the Science requirement.
Horticulture
This course is designed to introduce students to the horticulture industry and provide them with basic plant science knowledge that can be further developed in advanced horticulture courses. Major units of instruction include horticulture research, horticultural careers, plant anatomy, seed germination, plant propagation, growing media, pest management, hydroponics, identifying horticultural plants, growing greenhouse crops, and floral design. Improving computer and workplace skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This class may be repeated with the consent of the instructor. This class may be used toward the Science requirement. This course is dual credit with Highland Community College- 3 college credits.
Pre Veterinary Science
This course will develop students’ understanding of the small and companion animal industry, animal anatomy and physiology, animal ethics and welfare issues, animal health, veterinary medicine, veterinary office practices, and animal services to humans. Career exploration will focus on veterinarian, veterinary lab technicians, office lab assistant, small animal production, research lab assistant, and animal nutrition lab technician. Improving computer and workplace skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This class may be repeated with the consent of instructor. This class may be used toward the Science requirement. This course is dual credit with Highland Community College- 3 college credits.
Ag Business
This course will provide students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to manage personal finances and develop into a successful entrepreneur and/or businessperson. Instructional units include: business ownership types, starting an agribusiness, managing and operating an agribusiness, financing an agribusiness, managing personal finances, record keeping and financial management of an agribusiness, local, state, and federal taxes, agricultural law, and developing employability skills. Student skills will be enhanced in math, reading comprehension, and writing through agribusiness applications. Improving computer and workplace skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This class may be used towards consumer education requirements. This course is dual credit with Highland Community College- 3 college credits.
Entreprenuership
Entrepreneurship courses acquaint students with the knowledge and skills necessary to own and operate their own businesses. Topics from several fields typically form the course content: economics, marketing principles, human relations and psychology, business and labor law, legal rights and responsibilities or ownership, business and financial planning, finance and accounting, and communication. Participation in student organization activities is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration, and reinforcement of academic concepts.
Small Engine Repair and Welding
This course will concentrate on expanding student’s knowledge and experiences with agricultural mechanics technologies utilized in the agricultural industry. Units of instruction included are: design, construction, fabrication, internal combustion engines, hydraulics, employability skills, maintenance, and welding, (arc, mig, and oxyacetylene welding and cutting. Computer aided plasma cutting instruction may also be available. Careers of agricultural construction engineer, electrician, plumber, welder, equipment designer, parts manager, safety inspector, welder, and other related occupations will be examined. Improving workplace and computer skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This class may be repeated with the consent of the instructor.
Woodworking
This advanced course focuses on the knowledge, hands-on skills, and workplace skills applicable to construction in the agricultural industry. Major units of instruction include: personal safety, hand tools, power tools, blueprint reading, surveying, construction skills in carpentry, concrete, block laying, drywall and painting. Careers such as agricultural engineers, carpenter, concrete and block layers, finishers, safety specialists, and other related occupations will be examined. Improving workplace and computer skills will be a focus. Participation in FFA student organization activities and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects is an integral course component for leadership development, career exploration and reinforcement of academic concepts. This class may be repeated with the consent of the instructor.
Supervised Agricultural Experience I Grades: 9-10
Supervised Agricultural Experience II Grades: 11-12
Credits: 0.50 per year This orientation program is for students in the grades 9-10 (SAE I) or 11-12 (SAE II). Students receiving credit in this area must be enrolled in an approved agricultural program sequence. Individual students will have a minimum of one approved project or acceptable plan for doing so. Supervised study, project record book work, training plans and agreement, report writing, and instructor project visitation and supervision are essential of the supervised occupational experience as well as basic employability and transition skills and work ethic. SAE II has similar requirements but higher expectations for more in-depth work. FFA membership is required. This is an independent study class and requires instructor permission. This course is designed to establish knowledge and skills in various agricultural careers. Students will gain credit by establishing a project at their home, at a local business, or at their school usually after normal school hours. Example projects may include, but are not limited to: working at a garden center, raising vegetables/grain/livestock, conducting Agri-Science experiments in a greenhouse, and training horses at a stable. Students will be required to verify their experiences by keeping written or computerized records including: business agreements, budgets, inventories, daily activities, hours worked, income and expenses, total earnings, depreciation, and net worth. In addition, SAE lessons are integrated in each agricultural course. SAE participation can lead to full time employment, scholarships, and awards through the FFA.