Workshop Descriptions

Carroll Community College Drones Program - Mr. Jeremy Roop will share information on the emerging career pathways associated with drone piloting and credentialing required for piloting drones.  Presenters may demonstrate drone operation, weather and facilities permitting. 

SAE for All - SAE Specialist Ms. Breanna Pastir will discuss "SAE for All," a project from the National Council for Agricultural Education, that is reshaping how supervised agricultural experiences are employed in the 21st century classroom.  Learn about the difference between Foundational and Immersive SAE projects.  Learn how you can incorporate SAE for All into your classroom using student and teacher learning guides.  Don't miss this opportunity to expand your students' opportunities for experiential learning!

FFA Updates - Mrs. Terrie Shank, MD FFA Executive, will provide updates on National FFA and Maryland FFA events, policies, procedures, and opportunities. This is a" can't-miss" workshop for FFA advisors.  

Immersive AET How-To Sessions (Select one: Basics or Applications) (Laptop Computer Required)

• Basics for Beginners - Is SAE record keeping a challenge for you?  Are you unsure of how to use the AET with students?  If so, this beginners' workshop is for you.  Learn how to: 

  • • • access the AET

      • enter students, classes, and school information

      • set - up foundational and immersive SAE projects

      • enter SAE records for actions and finances in each type of SAE 

      • review and wrap-up SAEs annually.   

• Applications - Are you comfortable with using the AET for SAE record keeping, but struggle with completing the awards applications embedded within?  In this workshop, participants will learn to complete:

  • Proficiency and Star Awards Applications (complete an application for a sample student)

  • Degree Applications 

As an early service teacher, have you struggled to implement hand-on learning activities in the mechanical laboratory?  In this workshop, participants will prepare an electrical circuit trainer that can be replicated in the home school laboratory.  Participants will use the trainer to install several common circuits that can be taught to students in the lab.  Limited to 8 participants. 

Tours in Carroll County, Maryland that spiral into afternoon workshops.

• Shelter Systems - tour a computer automated factory that designs and builds structural components for buildings and homes. This session can spiral forward to the afternoon session on pole buildings.  CANCELLED

• Clear Ridge Nursery - See the host-site of the MD FFA Nursery/Landscaping CDE and practice your plant identification skills associated therewith.  Participate in a workshop to extend your capabilities to prepare a team for this event, observe emerging technologies in the landscaping/greenhouse industry, and learn about greenhouse/nursery irrigation at Clear Ridge Nursery. This session can spiral forward to the afternoon session on greenhouse irrigation.  

• Fuch's Spices Tour and Atlantic Blue Water Testing Laboratory -  Tour the production floor at Fuch's to gain first-hand knowledge on food safety protocols.  At Atlantic Blue, learn how water quality is assessed for drinkability and safety.  This session can spiral forward to the afternoon session on biological testing using petri dishes and Coliscan products.  

• Local Homestead Products -Tour an on-farm produce retailing facility, begun by FFA alumni.  Learn how the business began, leveraged capital acquisition opportunities for expansion, and uses social media to promote sales.  This session can spiral forward to the afternoon session on agricultural marketing.  

Agricultural Buildings - Ever wonder how to engage students in a structures project, but short on time, space, or funds to build a real building?  This workshop features a building simulation activity that can fit into any classroom/mechanics lab with minimal expenses and risk.  Participants will build a reduced-scale building and test its structural integrity.  

Greenhouse Irrigation - Does your greenhouse have an irrigation system? Mr. Jim Mews, from SiteOne Landscape Supply will help participants to build a sample tabletop irrigation system for the school greenhouse.  Limited to 10 participant.  

Food Safety and Water Quality Testing - Have your students ever wondered why meat, dairy, and foods are stored in refrigeration?  Why don't we eat raw meats?  Why should water be tested before consuming?  Learn how to teach students to find these answers in this workshop!  Learn to pour, inoculate, and analyze petri dishes using food samples stored and prepared in various ways, to test for microbial growth.  Use industry-level testing kits to analyze water for coliform contamination.  Hand-on, ready-to-go activities for your classroom! 

Farm Business Marketing -Andrea Haines of ALH wordandimage, LLC (a former FFA member) will discuss general marketing, photography and the importance of branding, followed by a Q&A for 1 hour, as a way to look at promoting our chapters and our marketing teams. Then, the superintendent of Farm Business Management, Stephanie Moore, will lead a mock competition.

Pest control and licensure recertification - Have you wondered about the invasive Spotted Lantern Fly that appeared in Maryland recently?  Do you hold a Maryland Pesticide License and need two hours of recertification credit?  This workshop, conducted by MDA staff (Alex Lehmann) is for you!  

The Maryland 4-H program has developed new curricula in Veterinary Science, Zoonosis kits for classroom instruction, Career Exploration kits, an updated/revised Exploration curriculum, and a new Curbing Our Carbon Appetite (sponsored by Bayer).  These curricula are focused on middle-high school students and recognized by National 4-H.  Participants will receive numerous take-home ideas, lessons, and materials to use in thier classrooms.  

The Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association is a highly active professional association for agricultural and natural resources teachers in Maryland.  In fact, it is one of the only professional education associations in Maryland that meets regularly to support its members and the profession, through professional development, legislative advocacy, and member engagement.  At these sessions, learn about the benefits of membership and meet other members, learn about the direction of Agricultural Education in Maryland, participate in committee actions that shape and guide the profession, and (as a member) vote for the association leaders for the coming year.