SECONDARY AGRICULTURE EDUCATION CHALLENGE GRANTS

PROGRAM SUMMARY -- FY 2001

Higher Education Programs

Science and Education Resources Development

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

October 2001

Launched in 1999, the Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants program, administered by the USDA Office of Higher Education Programs, under the authority contained in section 1417(j) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3152(j)), is designed to award grants to eligible public secondary schools to strengthen education in the broad areas of agriscience and agribusiness. The purpose of the USDA Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants program is to: (a) promote and strengthen secondary education in agriscience and agribusiness in order to help ensure the existence in the United States of a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricultural sciences system; and (b) promote complementary and synergistic linkages among secondary, 2-year postsecondary, and higher education programs in the food and agricultural sciences in order to promote excellence in education and encourage more young Americans to pursue and complete a baccalaureate or higher degree in the food and agricultural sciences.

Proposals may be submitted by any public secondary school with a demonstrated commitment to teaching agriscience and agribusiness. For FY 2001, only proposals targeted for grades 9-12 in public secondary schools were supported. Each separate school in a school district that meets the definition of a public secondary school is eligible to submit a proposal.

For the FY 2001 award cycle, $800,000 was appropriated. Of that amount, $740,561* was available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative costs. Supported projects address one or more of the following targeted areas: (a) enhancing agricultural education through curriculum improvements; (b) increasing faculty teaching competencies; (c) expanding career opportunities; (d) integrating agriscience and agribusiness education into the curriculum; (e) facilitating interaction with other academic institutions and employers; and (f) expanding student and workforce diversity.

A total of 58 different institutions from 25 states submitted proposals requesting $1,436,529 in the third year of the program. In May 2001, a 15-member peer review panel evaluated these proposals. The panel comprised faculty members from secondary schools, two-year postsecondary, land grant and non-land grant colleges and universities, and practitioners from the food and agricultural sciences community. Funds were available to support a total of 29 grants based upon the peer review deliberations. The 29 grants were awarded to 29 lead institutions (one award per applicant school) in 20 states. Eight of the projects funded in FY 2001 were joint projects involving two or more institutions. When collaborating institutions are included with the lead institutions, a total of 45 institutions from 20 states are being supported under the FY 2001 Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants program.

The following tables summarize this year’s Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants program competition:

Table 1. FUNDS REQUESTED/AWARDED BY EMPHASIS AREAS - FY 2001 Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants -
TARGET ACADEMIC EMPHASIS AREAS	NUMBER OF PROPOSALS		AMOUNT OF FUNDS
	Requested	Awarded	Requested	Awarded*
Agriscience	26	12	$668,169	$328,314
General Food and Agricultural Sciences	16	8	$459,921	$239,104
Agribusiness Management and Marketing	16	9	$308,439	$173,143
Other	0	0	$0	$0
TOTALS	58	29	$1,436,529	$740,561

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* Not all programs request the maximum funds allowed per institution under this grant ($25,000 - Regular proposals, or $40,000 - Joint proposals). These amounts represent the total Federal dollars awarded to each lead institution, including the funds that will be subcontracted out to collaborating institutions for joint projects. With fund transfer restrictions taken into account, no single institution will receive more than $25,000 (Regular proposals) or $28,000 (Joint proposals) under this program in FY 2001. All funded projects in this grants program require 1:1 non-Federal matching funds. Matching funds are not reflected in these Federal award amounts.

Table 2. Proposals Received/Awarded - by State - FY 2001 Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants -
State	# Received	# Awarded
Arizona	3	1
California	3	1
Georgia	5	1
Iowa	5	3
Idaho	1	1
Kansas	1	-
Kentucky	2	-
Minnesota	1	1
North Carolina	4	3
North Dakota	1	1
Nebraska	1	1
New Mexico	1	1
Nevada	1	1
New York	7	5
Ohio	2	1
Oklahoma	2	-
Oregon	1	1
Pennsylvania	1	-
South Carolina	1	-
South Dakota	2	1
Tennessee	2	1
Texas	4	1
Virginia	2	1
Washington	2	2
Wisconsin	3	1
TOTALS	58	29

Table 3. FUNDED PROJECT INFORMATION and DESCRIPTIONS

- FY 2001 Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants -

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03930	PROJECT TITLE	Agriscience and Agribusiness: Career Education for the Future of the Navajo Nation
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Chinle Unified School District #24 / AZ
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Ernesto Zamudio	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Agriscience and Agribusiness: Career Education for the Future of the Navajo Nation, a joint project between Chinlé and Red Mesa High Schools, promotes agricultural literacy and support for agriculture education, and encourages young Navajos to pursue postsecondary degrees in these disciplines. Even though 50 percent of Navajos are agro-pastoralists, there are currently few who study food and agricultural sciences, and most school personnel are unaware of the importance of agriculture education. Experiential, hands-on activities in a 9-12 curriculum based on sheep, wool, weaving, and agricultural products will tie education to Navajo cultural values, combining traditional life ways with contemporary best practices. By fostering a cross-disciplinary approach, the project will increase support for agriculture education and encourage students to pursue college degrees and employment in related disciplines. Activities include: creating a 9-12 Sheep is Life curriculum; promoting agriscience in the Navajo Nation through faculty in-service, presentations to school boards, career fairs, and broadcast media; food science programs advocating traditional foods for good health and diabetes prevention; planning and operating agribusiness facilities; leadership training for students and faculty; and field workshops, mentoring, and distance learning.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03946	PROJECT TITLE	Strengthening High School Agricultural Education Program – Precision Agriculture
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Riverdale High School / CA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Elizabeth Motta	FUNDS AWARDED*	$25,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Strengthening Riverdale High School (RHS) Agriculture Program-Precision Agriculture- enhances and enriches the RHS Ag program. Course offerings will be expanded to add precision agriculture and emerging technology. RHS students will receive education and foundation skills in irrigation technology, physical and mechanical technologies, and technology in agriculture and biotechnology. These skills, enriched with technology and hands-on learning, will provide the RHS students with the knowledge base to matriculate into postsecondary education programs at West Hills Community College, Coalinga, California State University at Fresno and California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. Articulation and In-kind support with these postsecondary educational institutions will provide us with the resources, support and expertise to develop a rich precision agriculture curriculum for the students of RHS that will complement the current curriculum of the Agriculture Program.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03941	PROJECT TITLE	Specialty Equipment Certification
INSTITUTION/ STATE	South Effingham High School / GA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Hoyt C. Mock	FUNDS AWARDED*	$18,225
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Specialty Equipment Certification project responds to the current need to provide certified employees for local industries. The project will become a technical/career course offering at South Effingham High School in the school year 2001-2002. The course will provide students the opportunity to learn operational procedures for such specialty equipment as forklifts, backhoes, front-end loaders, and bulldozers. Upon verification of the acquisition of these skills, students will explore the use of such equipment in various job markets. In addition, the career awareness opportunities provided through the course curriculum, the exposure to key personnel within the major industries and the University of Georgia Forestry Department, and the emphasis placed on encouraging South Effingham students to earn college prep/tech diplomas, will motivate the students to pursue postsecondary degrees in agriculture and other agriscience-related fields.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03972	PROJECT TITLE	FFA Degree Advancement and Career Development Using Online Modules
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Boone Community Schools / IA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Doug D. Dodd	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This joint project will involve the development and construction of 5 cross curricular web based modules that will offer all FFA students and instructors in the state of Iowa a place to learn and practice skills needed for career development events and degree advancement opportunities. Content areas will include: Soils, Crops, and Floriculture. Additional modules in the areas of Entrepreneurship and Meteorology will also be constructed to assist with postsecondary degree advancement for both students and teachers.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03951	PROJECT TITLE	Aquaculture Education Training Laboratory
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Linn-Mar Community School / IA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Dennis Dean Selness	FUNDS AWARDED*	$25,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This grant permits acquiring equipment needed to retrofit a current classroom into a water quality laboratory. This water quality laboratory will support the new aquaculture laboratory by providing needed space to conduct laboratory experiments and water quality tests, and to establish a bank of aquariums for student projects. These systems currently in an existing greenhouse have forced over-crowding and reduced the space required for student activities in the horticulture program and restrict activity in the aquaculture program, thereby reducing the capacity to support both aspects of our curriculum.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03932	PROJECT TITLE	Vocational Agriculture Career Link Program
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Van Buren Community Schools / IA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Karen E. Stinson	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Vocational Agriculture Career Link Program, a joint application of Van Buren Community Schools and Fox Valley Schools, Area Education Agency 15, and Indian Hills Community College, has three main goals: 1) to provide linkages between secondary, 2-year and postsecondary institutions, 2) promote awareness of agriscience and agribusiness career opportunities, and 3) increase faculty teaching competencies. To meet these objectives there will be ongoing staff development throughout the school year and a six-week pilot agribusiness summer supervised job-shadowing experience for students and faculty supervisors.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03981	PROJECT TITLE	Hydroponics and Aquaculture: Save Water and Make “Cents”
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Mackay High School / ID
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Vernon Roche	FUNDS AWARDED*	$24,644
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will combine an existing aquaculture operation with a new hydroponics operation to grow tomatoes using water from the fish tanks to heat the green house, then add nutrients, including fish residue, to feed the tomatoes. Students will sell the tomatoes and fish to area merchants and restaurants. The students will be offered two new Science classes as they test and monitor water and plant tissue plus a new Business Math class that will use the projects as examples and an Entrepreneurial Class. All of this will be done with careful water management and environmentally safe pest and disease control, using insects, as students learn new approaches to Agriscience and Agribusiness.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03962	PROJECT TITLE	Belle Plaine Manufacturing and Marketing Concepts (BP MMC)
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Belle Plaine Public Schools / MN
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Bruce Mathiowetz	FUNDS AWARDED*	$20,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Belle Plaine Manufacturing & Marketing Concepts (BP MMC) project expands an existing Agriculture Education program that has focused on welding and construction into a multidiscipline student-based business. The proposal adds entrepreneurship as well as sales and marketing curricula, that teach students to complete market research and to design a product that is needed. Designs are then given to the construction and fabrication classes to produce the product. The product is then turned back over to the business students to market and sell. Income from sales will then be utilized to maintain and continually update equipment. The grant provides equipment in the shop area to produce projects and new technology in the classroom for students to complete market research, to design the product using computer aided drafting (CAD) and to develop presentations to sell the products. Teaching this business process in a hands-on environment will: (1) draw new students to the program; (2) allow students to explore new agriculture career fields; (3) demonstrate the need of qualified graduates, and (4) promote postsecondary education.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03959	PROJECT TITLE	Aquaculture/Hydroponics – Learning the Job First Hand
INSTITUTION/ STATE	West Craven High School / NC
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Paula J. Burnor	FUNDS AWARDED*	$22,627
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Aquaculture is a fast growing and prosperous industry in North Carolina. At Present North Carolina has an estimated $25 million in income from the aquaculture industry and supplies 10% of the US fish market and is increasing steadily. For example Tilapia sales in 1999, estimated at $13,000, grew to $200,000 in 2000, and Hybrid Striped bass sales in 1999 were $417,500 and have grown to $5,375,000. These figures clearly show the need for knowledgeable and experienced workers for this growing field. Therefore, some job related experience is needed to enhance the job ready skills of our students to enter all facets of this growing industry. Agribusiness and agriscience skills will be strengthened to increase student’s knowledge and understanding of traditional subjects and emerging technologies in aquaculture and hydroponics. Students will be involved with all aspects of production and maintenance of the aquatic tanks and hydroponics units. Students will collect data, maintain records and make the pertinent decisions regarding care of the fish, plants and facility. These aspects of the project will allow students to incorporate knowledge and skills learned from other disciplines such as biology, business, math, earth science, and English. These skills will allow them to learn fish identification, water quality assessment, data collection and analysis, and disease identification and treatment, while expanding their career horizons as they gain skills to pursue immediate employment in production facilities or as they pursue postsecondary education in fields that range from wildlife conservation to fisheries management.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03939	PROJECT TITLE	Development of a Biotechnology Laboratory for Demonstration and Research in Agriculture
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Wake County Public School System / NC
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Michael A. Johnson	FUNDS AWARDED*	$24,997
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
One of the fastest growing fields of agriculture in the biotechnology sector. This proposal establishes a biotechnology course based upon the Biotechnology for Plants, Animals and the Environment curriculum developed by The National Council for Agricultural Education. This curriculum will provide many hands-on learning activities that will allow students the opportunity to see how agriculture continues as a high tech career choice. We will redesign an existing classroom to become a biotechnology lab with spaces for procedures such as tissue culture, DNA replication and extraction and other experiments to draw and keep more students looking at the fields of biotechnology and agriscience as possible career choices. This project will also utilize the Research Triangle Park of North Carolina allowing students the opportunity to see biotechnology in action at a corporate setting. Partnerships will be created allowing students the opportunity to apprentice and observe actual scientists on the cutting edge of discovery. Ultimately, the end product will be the recruitment and retention of a wider variety of students into the food and fiber industry.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03986	PROJECT TITLE	Ashe County High School Symbiotic Center
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Ashe County Board of Education / NC
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Jane Clymer Gardner	FUNDS AWARDED*	$20,315
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will help expand and strengthen the rebuilding of the Ashe County High School Agricultural Program while showcasing new technologies and crops that will help to diversify the agriculture economy in the mountains of Northwestern North Carolina. Through new equipment purchased with this grant, students will raise tilapia fish, hydroponic lettuce, vegetables and herbs. Data will be collected and recorded by students and shared through workshops and classes sponsored by the local Cooperative Extension Service and community college. A mentoring program will be established with elementary schools providing a strong incentive for the younger students to become interested in agriculture and science programs. Funding will also provide a stipend for two students to intern as managers of the project.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03983	PROJECT TITLE	Agriscience Research Laboratory
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Richland School District # 44 / ND
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Tony James Boehm	FUNDS AWARDED*	$9,680
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Richland School District #44 is committed to remodeling its current agricultural education facility to include an agriscience research lab. Our program will not be used just to grow plants, but will be managed as a complete agriscience lab where 7 – 12 grade students will conduct experiments and labs in plant growth and propagation, soil science, pesticides, entomology, genetics, hydroponics, pathology, floriculture, horticulture, and nursery landscape. As an extension of the classroom, this lab will help students acquire skills by putting into practice the classroom lessons learned in botany and natural resources. Sunflower research projects have been planned with “Seeds 2000”, an agronomic company. Experiments will be started on site and then moved to research plots dedicated by two local farmers. Students will make connections to Math, Science, Business, and English classes. This lab will recruit and prepare students for college degrees and careers in agriculture. Adult education will also be offered through the Richland County Vocational Center and the Adult Farm Management program.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03979	PROJECT TITLE	MEAD Agricultural Sciences Magnet High School
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Mead Educational Foundation / NE
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Angela Leifeld	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The MEAD Agricultural Sciences Magnet High School project will: 1) provide overall support and coordination to insure the growth and sustainability of the project; 2) refine and expand the integration of agricultural science instruction with core academic areas of English, science, social science, mathematics, as well as consumer science and business; 3) increase the instructional competence of affected faculty in the areas of team teaching, problem-based learning, creation of web-based instruction, process of cross-curriculum integration, and the use of agricultural technologies; and 4) interact with other educational institutions and the general public in addressing agricultural literacy through student/teacher presentations and curriculum delivery. These goals will enhance a curriculum that requires all freshmen and sophomore students to complete semester courses in agricultural literacy and entrepreneurship in agriculture. These two requirements provide all students a clear understanding of the elective career pathways available for specialization. The current pathways available are agriculture technology, agribusiness, agriscience, and food science.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03971	PROJECT TITLE	“You’re Not the Boss of Me”
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Clouderoft Municipal Schools / NM
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Robert Booky	FUNDS AWARDED*	$11,617
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project combines the energy and independence of teenagers with instruction and application of sound business practices. Students will research and create a business that they must maintain and nurture. This project is far different from making gun racks in shop or simulating a business in an accounting class. Students will take their background in agriculture and demonstrate the successful management of a student driven business. Students will learn the harsh realities of personal economics. They will become their own boss with all the attached responsibility.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03956	PROJECT TITLE	Horticultural Therapy Community Intergenerational Project – C.I.P.
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Yerington High School / NV
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Roy W. Enochson	FUNDS AWARDED*	$24,099
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Educational targets for the Horticultural Therapy Community Intergenerational Project (CIP) are three-fold. First, the project should expand career opportunities for our students. Using a class operated as a horticultural business, students will gain new hands-on knowledge and skills used in the greenhouse and nursery industry. These competencies can be utilized after high school in several ways. Students can use them at home or in the retirement home. Students may chose to use this knowledge base to help secure a job somewhere in the horticulture industry, from greenhouse production to sales within grocery stores or home and garden centers. A strong thread of horticultural therapy will run through the operation of this project. We plan use this as a base to give our students a renewed sense of purpose. The self-esteem derived from this will be another benefit in securing employment. The second target is to expand workforce diversity. This workforce should include students with a broad ethnic background, resource students and elderly Americans. Our goal will be to provide our students with new career directions and the skills necessary to enter a much broader workforce. Using the expertise of our C.I.P. Board, students will receive help in securing employment or additional specific training after high school. Finally, the project should facilitate open interaction between other community agencies, employers, and age groups. C.I.P. will involve our high school, local hospital, a retirement home, and local senior center working together for the accomplishment of our goals. Since our community has seen an increase in its elderly population, the project will be the basis for a renewed dialogue between high school students and the elderly community. At the same time we will be drawing upon the wealth of life skills possessed by the later. Horticultural therapy will be the basis for commonality and our horticultural business will provide the skills.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03942	PROJECT TITLE	Agriculture in Argyle-Reconnecting to the Land
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Argyle Central School / NY
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Gena P. Cone	FUNDS AWARDED*	$23,986
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project seeks to support the initiation of a secondary agriculture education instructional program. Through interdisciplinary curriculum modules, students will be involved in hands-on learning that aligns to New York State Learning Standards. A work-study mentoring component will provide students opportunities to work with local farmers in the community to learn about dairy farming, land management, equine studies and other areas of interest. Through mentoring, students will develop job-related skills and explore the possibility of future career or further education in these areas. Leadership skills will be addressed through the development of a FFA program (for students in grades 7-12). The FFA would provide leadership seminars, camping opportunities and develop special demonstration programs for the Washington County Fair. The skills would focus on communication, public speaking, time-management and building a positive sense of self worth. Through these efforts, ties between the Argyle school and the community will be made stronger and will help to reconnect Argyle students and families to the land through the study and love for agriculture.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03974	PROJECT TITLE	Joint Effort Preparing Agriculture Students for Post-Secondary Education.
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Randolph Central School / NY
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Patricia S. Walker	FUNDS AWARDED*	$30,145
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project is a joint effort of three school districts to provide activities to enhance agriculture students’ ability to make knowledgeable choices for their post-secondary education. Student activities are designed to develop knowledge, skills, experience, and motivation to pursue baccalaureate or higher degrees in agriscience and/or agribusiness. Student agricultural literacy will be increased by integration of agriculture and science class curriculum and team teaching efforts encouraging the understanding of agriculture career awareness. Students will participate in activities increasing their knowledge of college requirements, offerings, and physical settings. Student activities will include an agriculture career day, participation in college career events, interactive video communications programs with college and business personnel, and access to the Agriculture Education Network via computer, and opportunities for shadowing and internship experiences. Students from ten neighboring schools will be invited to a career day that is visualized as the kickoff point of several interrelated student activities. The results of the project will be shared with area schools during career development events as well as being placed on a web site.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03964	PROJECT TITLE	Curriculum Development for the Danby Academy of Agriculture and the Environment
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Ithaca City School District / NY
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Judith Pastel	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This joint project involves the Ithaca City School District, New York Agriculture in the Classroom, personnel from Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, and other local and regional agriculture professionals, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES, students and community members. The goal of the project is to create a course of study and curriculum for the newly organizing Danby Academy of Agriculture and the Environment, a secondary agricultural and environmental education school currently in the planning stage. The project will include visiting existing agricultural education programs, reviewing existing curriculum and instructional materials, conducting teacher in service workshops, integrating agriculture into existing curricula, and synthesizing all the information into a comprehensive course of study for the new school. A project coordinator will facilitate the development of the course of study and organize teacher workshops to help build teaching competencies in agriculture and environmental education.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03944	PROJECT TITLE	Pioneer Agriculture Literacy, Curriculum, College, and Careers Project
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Yorkshire Pioneer Central School / NY
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Martin Krause	FUNDS AWARDED*	$22,030
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Yorkshire Pioneer Central School will establish curricula for five agriculture courses that will be enhanced and aligned with New York State Science Learning Standards. Improved Animal Science and Food Science courses will be part of the school’s Distance Learning Program with five other districts. The project extends articulation agreements with two state agriculture and tech colleges and engages a third. Career awareness for agriscience and agribusiness is promoted through project activities including Agriculture Literacy Library, business and industry tours with partner Cornell Cooperative Extension, awareness brochure, college visitations, job shadowing, school to work experiences, and improved exhibits at local Community Day, FFA events and eighth grade recruitment. The project builds on success of the Pioneer Agriculture Program, including the Agri-Tech Program that received the 1998 Award for Most Outstanding Program by the Association of Teachers of Agriculture in New York.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03928	PROJECT TITLE	Agriculture Documentation Studies in Agriculture, English, and Art
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Edwards-Knox Central School / NY
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Michael C. Gault	FUNDS AWARDED*	$4,143
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will develop a curriculum to allow students within any class at any time within the year to make a documentary on an agricultural topic (from issues to identification). Students will use a digital camera and camcorder to narrate and record a presentation on a CD that will be used in future classes. To create a presentation that proficiently examines the topic, students will need to include investigative research. This will include library research, visits to sites for photographing points of issue or identification of species, and contact with professionals either by phone, electronic, or personal interviews. Assistance from the agriculture teacher/students for content and contacts, art students/teacher for photographing and editing points, and the English students/teacher for script editing will be used. In conjunction with the agriculture classes, the English 12 class will spend 10 weeks on journalism using agriculture topics to produce documentaries that will be presented to all agriculture students, and art students will create replicas of New York’s indigenous birds and develop documentaries to explain identification characteristics. Recorded presentations will be available for in-class viewing, in future classes, in other elementary and high schools during parent/teacher conferences, to the school Board of Education, and at County and State fairs, thus increasing agriculture literacy in many locations.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03984	PROJECT TITLE	Project Environmental Service Learning (ESL)
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Ripley Union Lewis Huntington Schools / OH
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Kristi Scott	FUNDS AWARDED*	$25,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project Environmental Service Learning (ESL) will successfully integrate agriscience and agribusiness into all curricular areas in the Ripley School District by extending our existing greenhouse learning lab to include an animal research lab that will promote hands-on training for all students K-12. The project will enhance agriculture education by improving curriculum through integrating studies of production agriculture and natural resources into all curricular areas. It will target improving faculty teaching competencies, expand career opportunities for students and adult area farmers, and facilitate interaction with other institutions and employers. ESL will promote on-site learning laboratory experiences involving visits to area power plants, paper mills and local farms. Students further their character education skills by utilizing the greenhouse/animal research learning labs for community service projects. Proposed projects will appear on the Ripley High School Web site, be available through the distance-learning laboratory, and will appear in local newspaper articles.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03978	PROJECT TITLE	Alternative Growing Biological Environment
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Canby High School / OR
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Maxson J. Sherman	FUNDS AWARDED*	$25,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Alternative Growing Biological Environments (AGBE) involves high school students in Biology and Agriculture classes at Canby High School. The project establishes a wetland/native plant nursery for the City of Canby and other natural resource agencies. Currently Canby High School has a unique hands-on agriculture and science program that allows students to be involved in a number of service learning projects in the Canby community. This project will enhance existing programs by helping to integrate other teachers and classes into this hands-on science class. The curriculum has already been developed for the project and several sites in the community have been designated as needing restoration. These areas include local parks, wetlands and riparian zones. Each of the teachers and community partners involved will work with students to provide specific information in order to grow, propagate, plant and understand the needs of the various plants grown in the nursery. Students will develop business plans, marketing tools, gain technical skills, and be provided the opportunity to intern with a variety of natural resource agencies.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03982	PROJECT TITLE	The Windmill Laboratory
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Milbank Public School / SD
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Jerome C. Janisch	FUNDS AWARDED*	$20,265
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Through this project, Milbank School District will create a learning experience capitalizing on a unique educational and historical local resource -- the 19th century Hollands Grist Mill. The Windmill Laboratory project will enable students to operate their own flour mill and bakery, and to learn first hand about managing an agribusiness enterprise. The Agriculture Department of the Milbank High School has been working closely with the Milbank Community Foundation (MCF) to encourage students to pursue degrees in agriculture and to return to the rural community to develop their careers. MCF has already committed over $450,000 to restore the wind-powered Hollands Grist Mill to operation. Students will learn about the importance of processing raw agricultural products for sale to the end consumer. They will have the opportunity to manage this agribusiness themselves including business, technical and consumer education functions. Agriculture professionals from the community will teach and mentor them through every phase of the venture. The project is an excellent case study in value-added agriculture and will be the subject of a documentary film and possible public television feature.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03936	PROJECT TITLE	Success of Students Through Innovative Curriculum in Emerging Technologies
INSTITUTION/ STATE	McNairy County Ag Ed Program / TN
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Jeffrey A. Lipford	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project has three distinct components: aquaculture, hydroponics, and micropropagation. The main focus will be on micropropagated plants and creating a school-based business of propagating and marketing tissue cultured ferns. This focus will enhance the agriculture program’s ability to successfully produce and research plants from the modern facility already built at the school. The other aspect of the project will be the primary focus at McNairy Central. The McNairy Central program will be growing tilapia in a closed circulating tank in a greenhouse. The waste from the fish will be circulated through a hydroponic system to grow vegetables all year around. This project will expand agricultural literacy by moving beyond the traditional agriculture of the region. The science and math programs will integrate with agriculture classes to conduct the appropriate research related to the project.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03938	PROJECT TITLE	Catfish Recirculating Water System Growth Rate Research Project
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Troup High School / TX
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Randy Tidwell	FUNDS AWARDED*	$25,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Catfish Recirculating Water System Growth Rate Research Project will include many hands-on activities as well as prepare the student for experimental research. Catfish approximately four inches in length will be placed in six culture tanks. Two of the tanks will be the control tanks in which the catfish will be fed a standard ration developed by the industry. One tank will be fed top water or floating catfish feed, while the other is fed a sinking or bottom feed. Growth rates and feed conversion will be calculated and data will be translated into vital information. The other two tanks will examine various feeding rates utilizing a direct ratio of body weight percent to feed rate. Catfish growth rate and feed conversion will be monitored and recorded for further analysis. The next phase will incorporate the symbiotic relation between catfish and watermelon transplants. Catfish will be grown according to the results of the data collected earlier and plants will be introduced to use the effluent water for nutritional purposes.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03929	PROJECT TITLE	Agriculture and Biology Integrated Class
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Augusta County Public Schools / VA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Katherine F. Hawkins	FUNDS AWARDED*	$24,968
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
At Fort Defiance High School, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, 10th grade students have the opportunity to take an integrated agriculture/ biology course. Grant assistance will permit purchase of equipment necessary to implement the natural resources portion of the course. Team teachers will vary instructional techniques and offer a hands-on approach to learning scientific principles. With the acquisition of the various instruments, students will be able to see the life cycle of a fish, collect and analyze stream samples, and learn how humans affect the environment and food chain. Grant and local funds will allow teachers to attend workshops and training provided by Save Our Streams, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Virginia Extension Service, and VA Tech University’s Biotechnology Center. Students will be exposed to colleges and new careers by working with local state and federal agencies, area universities, and business and industry partners. The ultimate goal is to offer students the opportunity to learn biological principles in an agricultural setting and to promote career and post secondary education in the agriculture and food sciences.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03980	PROJECT TITLE	Back on the Farm: Agribusiness in a Rural Economy in Transition
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Sequim School District / WA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Derrell E. Sharp	FUNDS AWARDED*	$24,785
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
To encourage young people to consider agribusiness careers in an isolated region where work dependent on farming, forestry, and fishing have been replaced by low-wage service jobs, we propose actual experience running small profitable agriculture businesses. The Agricultural Sciences program at Sequim High School will expand onto a 5 acre farm site where two donated fully-equipped commercial greenhouses will form the core of three specialty production groups: hanging baskets and bedding plants, animal husbandry, and ornamentals and trees. Students, including girls and those from ethnic minorities and with disabilities, will be advised and mentored by local agribusiness persons, who will also provide internships and on-site visits. Washington State University will assist by communicating with students in person and on-line, and by hosting field trips to introduce students to the campus. By project’s end in December, 2003, we will have a credit-sharing agreement and profit-making agriculture-related businesses to show students and the community that Sequim’s young people, with high school experience and postsecondary education, can make a living wage while still helping preserve our area’s rural character.

PROPOSAL NUMBER	2001-03975	PROJECT TITLE	Integrating Emerging Technology into Ag Education Using GPS/GIS Curriculum & In service
INSTITUTION/ STATE	Yelm Community Schools / WA
PROJECT DIRECTOR	Dennis L. Wallace	FUNDS AWARDED*	$40,000
PROJECT DESCRIPTION