The program curriculum encourages critical thinking, hands-on learning, and career exploration. Topics and concepts discussed throughout the curriculum include:

• Sustainability

• Plant science

• Soil science

• Animal science

• Scientific method

• Parliamentary procedure

• Using power tools for repair and production

• Turning wood on a lathe

• Growing, spinning, and weaving cotton by hand

• Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)

• Future Farmers of America (FFA)

• Developing career skills

• Maintaining our agricultural facility and garden

• Field trips! to appreciate our environment and to learn from other institutes

The Department of Education for the State of Hawaii has prepared short descriptions of all CTE courses, and anyone may read any of the descriptions here on the official DOE webpage. 

However, it is an indisputable fact that every high school ag program differs based on its demographics, facility, climate, geography, and instructors, along with a host of other components. So, I wrote my own descriptions! Feel free to peruse them below. I feel that these better reflect what the Kalani High School Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) program can offer its students. 

Year 1: Foundations of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (TAO1000)

The first-year course will provide students with a basic understanding of the following main ideas:

• Agriculture is everywhere, and we are all a part of it. 
• Humans need food, fiber, fuel/fire, pharmaceuticals, and furniture/shelter to survive and aesthetics, transportation, and entertainment to thrive. 
  • OR Humans need agricultural products (specifically, The Five Fs and The Other ATE) to survive and thrive. 
• Unscientific and inhumane practices have damaged agriculture in the past. 
• Humans must innovate to save our world. 

This course uses hands-on experiences as well as classroom instruction to prepare students for entry into agricultural careers and to continue to second-year AFNR courses. Specific topics covered within this course include agriscience, agricultural history, agricultural legislation, and environmental conservation. Specific skills developed within this course include plant production, small animal care, food safety, and safe usage of shop tools. All students are encouraged (though not required) to participate in FFA activities and competitions, and many assignments are based on FFA content and teachings.

Year 2: Small Animal Systems (TAS2000)

In this second-year course, there are four year-long assignments, and together they allow a student to complete all the requirements of the Chapter FFA Degree by the end of the school year.  The projects are:

• A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE); 

• A formal meeting presentation, in which each student will teach the class about a selected course standard and then lead a formal meeting to discuss a controversial aspect of that standard;

• Participate in FFA activities and competitions, including the SAE Proficiency Award program; 

• Complete 10 hours of volunteering. 

All four projects have components that must be completed each quarter. All projects are expected to align with course content. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for entry into careers in animal care, such as veterinary medicine or animal rescue. Students in this course are required to participate in local FFA competitions. They are also expected to create an educational display for the biennial Kalani AFNR Red and White Spring Fair, an educational showcase and craft fair event whose proceeds support the Kalani AFNR program.

Prerequisite: Foundations of AFNR (TAO1000)

Year 3: Large Animal Systems (TAS3000)

In this third-year course, there are three year-long assignments, and together they allow a student to complete all the requirements of the State FFA Degree, awarded by the Hawaii State Advisor. The projects are:

• A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE); 

• A speech of at least five minutes and not more than eight minutes, on an important aspect of a selected course standard;

• Participate in FFA activities and competitions, including the SAE Proficiency Award program.

All three projects have components that must be completed each quarter. All projects are expected to align with course content. The ultimate goal of the course is to prepare students for entry into careers in animal care, such as veterinary medicine or animal rescue. Students in this course are required to participate in local FFA competitions, and they are expected to serve as FFA chapter officers or other positions of leadership within the Kalani FFA chapter. Students in this course are also expected to create an educational display for the biennial Kalani AFNR Red and White Spring Fair, an educational showcase and craft fair event whose proceeds support the Kalani AFNR program.

Prerequisite: Small Animal Systems (TAS2000)

Year 3: Agriculture Production and Agri-Business (TAO3000)

In this third-year course, there are three year-long assignments, and together they allow a student to complete all the requirements of the State FFA Degree, awarded by the Hawaii State Advisor. The projects are:

• A Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE); 

• A speech of at least five minutes and not more than eight minutes, on an important aspect of a selected course standard;

• Participate in FFA activities and competitions, including the SAE Proficiency Award program.

Each of the three projects has components that must be completed by the end of each quarter. All projects are expected to align with course content. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for entry into careers in agricultural production and business management. Students in this course are required to participate in local FFA competitions, and they are expected to serve as FFA chapter officers or other positions of leadership within the Kalani FFA chapter. Students in this course are also expected to manufacture, market, and sell agriculturally relevant products at the biennial Kalani AFNR Red and White Spring Fair, an educational showcase and craft fair event whose proceeds support the Kalani AFNR program.

Prerequisite: Principles of Agriculture, Agri-Business, and Food Systems (TAO2000)

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