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This 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 the 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. Students in this course have the opportunity to achieve their Greenhand FFA Degree, the first of four levels of FFA Degrees.