SECONDARY AGRICULTURE EDUCATION

CHALLENGE GRANTS PROGRAM

Program Summary & Project Descriptions

Higher Education Programs

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

October 1999

SECONDARY AGRICULTURE EDUCATION CHALLENGE GRANTS PROGRAM

FY 1999 PROGRAM SUMMARY

This is a new competitive grants program for FY 1999. The purpose of the program is to help ensure a qualified workforce to serve the food and agricultural science system, 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. It is intended that projects supported under this program will address local, state, regional, and/or national needs towards improving secondary education and encourage systematic linkages between public secondary schools and institutions of higher learning that will expand secondary student's awareness and understanding of professional opportunities in the food and agricultural industry.

In FY 1999, eligibility was limited to any public secondary school with projects serving grades 9-12. The submitting school must show a significant commitment to the program. Such commitment may be, but is not limited to, previous experiences, the ability to provide matching funds, or support from the school's administration.

For the FY 1999 program $500,000 were appropriated. Of that amount approximately $472,500 were available for project grant awards after subtracting administrative and panel costs. These funds were used to support grants in the following areas of emphasis: General Food and Agricultural Sciences, Agribusiness Management and Marketing, Agricultural Social Sciences, and, Communications and Rural Sociology.

A total of 73 proposals, requesting approximately $1.017 million were received. In July 1999, the grant applications were evaluated by a 12 -member peer review panel. Based on the deliberations of the panel, a total of 37 different schools received awards in 16 states across the Nation. The following charts present information on the grants awarded under the FY 1999 Secondary Agriculture Education challenge Grants Program.

No. Proposals

Awarded

Integrating Food and Agricultural Sciences via Traditional 8 (21.6%)

Curriculum Enhancement and Career Exploration

Horticulture Sciences 7 (18.9%)

Agriscience/Physics 4 (10.8%)

Aquaculture, 7 (18.9%)

Aquaponics,

Hydroponics

Greenhouse Construction and Related Curriculum Development 4 (10.8%)

Agronomy/Natural Sciences 5 (13.5%)

Precision Farming via Global Position Systems (GPS) 2 (5.4%)

and Geographic Information systems (GIS)

Secondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants Program

Project Descriptions for FY 1999 Funded Projects

Proposal Number: 1999-04965

Project Director(s): Sonya Lord, Christian MacKinnon, Mark Balschweid

Project Title: Indiana Pilot Agriscience Collaboration Institute

School: STAR Academy, Emmerich Manual High School

Indianapolis, Indiana

This project focuses on professional development of agricultural science teachers and business teachers in the State of Indiana. Through the Institute, teachers will develop lesson plans that integrate agribusiness and agriscience into existing curriculum. This will promote agricultural literacy by demonstrating to others how agricultural concepts can be woven into other curriculums. This is particularly relevant as teachers nationwide struggle with meeting state educational mandates.

Proposal Number: 1999-04969

Project Director(s): Edward Manzer and Roberta Manzer

Project Title: Development of an Aquaculture System for Teaching Demonstration and Research

School: Northeastern High School

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

The purpose of the project is to use aquaculture as a vehicle to teach applied science. Hybrid striped bass will be raised. Using aquaculture provides a mechanism for hands-on-learning while providing a vehicle for teaching scientific principles including the scientific method. Students will learn about fish production and water management. Students involved with the project will share their "expertise" with elementary and middle school students via scheduled field trips from other schools. The facility also will be used by the environmental science courses as a learning laboratory for monitoring water quality.

Proposal Number: 1999-04973

Project Director(s): William Jimmerson

Project Title: Precision Farming Technology Using GPS/GIS

School: Conrad High School

Conrad, Montana

This project uses GPS and GIS to incorporate geography with agriculture. This project will upgrade the curriculum of Conrad High School to teach the latest in Precision Farming Technology. Equipment purchased under the grant will be used to map local farms. It is anticipated that this will interest students in the areas of agricultural technology while providing a valuable service to local farmers. It is a strong demand area for students seeking employment after high school or for those continuing their education. Students will keep a sample of their work in a student portfolio which should prove to be quite useful in project assessment.

Proposal Number: 1999-04974

Project Director(s): Michelle Dohlman

Project Title: Greenhouse Laboratory Project

School: Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock

Rockford, Iowa

This proposal is for the construction of a greenhouse and the development of related material. Their project demonstrates how the addition of a greenhouse will expand the depth and breadth of both agribusiness and agriscience activities at the school. By allowing courses to be taught "hands-on" students will gain a broader appreciation of the subject matter. This proposal also addresses student diversity which is one of the thrusts of the program.

Proposal Number: 1999-04975

Project Director(s): Christian Morgan

Project Title: Applying Agriculture to Urban Students through Symbiotic Production Techniques

School: Marcus High School

Flower Mound, Texas

This project will create a learning laboratory that links agriscience and agribusiness. This will be accomplished by linking a greenhouse with an aquaculture unit. The project also incorporates agribusiness through the marketing of tilapia fish and hydroponic lettuce. Effluent from the fish will be use to grow the lettuce. Students will be responsible for growing both crops, monitoring environmental conditions, along with marketing and harvesting the two crops.

Proposal Number: 1999-04977

Project Director(s): Martin Krause, Mary Lou Genaway

Project Title: Pioneer Agriculture Careers Challenge

School: Yorkshire-Pioneer Central School

Yorkshire, New York

This project focuses on agribusiness and agriscience careers. It also will promote linkages within post-secondary institutions. Planned outputs of the project include a career awareness brochure, a web site, school-to-work agreements with local employers and an articulation agreement with a local college.

Proposal Number: 1999-04979

Project Director(s): William Stowell

Project Title: South Jefferson Agriculture Science and Technology Enhancement Project

School: South Jefferson Central School

Adams, New York

The PI references a study done by Bayer Corporation noticing that students lack essential skills linking critical thinking, experimentation, problem-solving, and teamwork to perform successfully in today's workforce. This addresses the Congressional intent of the Secondary Ag Program. The project is focused on creating a "hands-on" learning environment to encourage participation in high school agricultural education courses. The primary focus of this project is on career awareness.

Proposal Number: 1999-04980

Project Director(s): B. Hilton Webb, Sue Jarvis

Project Title: Student Success through Innovative Curriculum in Emerging New Technologies

School: North Stokes High School

Danbury, North Carolina

This project has four distinct components: aquaculture, bioponics, fish hatchery, and hydroponics. Tilapia will be grown in a closed circulating tank (aquaculture) located in a greenhouse. The waste from the fish will be circulated through a hydroponic system to grow vegetables year around (Aquaponics - Bioponics). A fish hatchery will be included to supply a continuous supply of tilapia. The vegetables will be grown using hydroponics which uses an aggregate and water culture. Students will be able to see a complete production system. The project also incorporates an agribusiness component. It will provide the students with a significant amount of "hands-on" experience through the construction and operation phase. There is also a solid link to North Carolina State University which will support career awareness.

Proposal Number: 1999-04985

Project Director(s): Dennis Berry, John Dotson

Project Title: Use of a School-Based Enterprise to Study Agriscience and Agribusiness

School: Wall Lake View Auburn School

Lake View, Iowa

This project is for the development of a school based business (Green Thumb FFA Cooperative) to study agribusiness and agriscience. The focus is on aquaculture, aquaponics, and hydroponic crop production. The project helps expand agricultural literacy by moving beyond the traditional agriculture of the region. The project serves as a well-defined education model for "hands-on" learning.

Proposal Number: 1999-04987

Project Director(s): Bill Lesh, Erric Ross, Steve Olczak

Project Title: Mt. Hood Regional Natural Resources Horticulture Education Enhancement Project

School: Reynolds School District

Fairview, Oregon

This project has the potential to impact several schools through the establishment of a regional horticultural consortium. Reynolds High School is serving as the fiscal agent. The project has two main goals. The first is to develop a 2+2+2 articulation agreement with the regional schools, Mt. Hood Community College, and either Oregon State or Washington State University. The second goal is to increase opportunities for teachers through internships, team teaching, and through a series of teacher workshops.

Proposal Number: 1999-04989

Project Director(s): Pat Macune, Dwayne Riley

Project Title: Endless Opportunities: Agriculture in Texas and Bexar County

School: Judson High School

San Antonio, Texas

This project focuses on creating four videos on agricultural careers. The school serves a very diverse population. By developing the videos locally, the end product will be more realistic to the students. In addition, the videos have the potential of serving multiple audiences.

Proposal Number: 1999-04991

Project Director(s): Marilyn Gross, Daniel Mazur

Project Title: Agriculture Literacy and Workplace Training - Integrating Academic and Job Skills

School: Genesee Valley BOCES

Batavia, New York

This project focuses on work place preparation, agricultural literacy, and university visitations. The applicant institution serves an at-risk population in an alternative high school. A strength of the project is job shadowing. The school draws from 22 component schools giving it a ready-made vehicle for dissemination of project results. The design of the project is based on recommendations from the school's Agricultural Task Force. This shows a strong linkage between local needs and the program design.

Proposal Number: 1999-04992

Project Director(s): Lisa Sanderson

Project Title: Enhancement of Biotechnology Curriculum and Creation of a Tissue Culture Lab

School: Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, No. Nash Senior High

Rocky Mount, North Carolina

This project focuses on incorporating plant tissue culture into the agriscience curriculum. The project addresses curriculum development, teacher's professional development, and improvement in instructional facilities. The use of plan tissue culture is a prevalent method of plant propagation in specific areas of agribusiness. The project provides for a solid learning experience in agriscience and will help prepare high school students with the necessary foundation to be on the cutting edge of agricultural technology.

Proposal Number: 1999-04995

Project Director(s): Russell Stinson

Project Title: Incorporating Hydroponics into Agriscience Education

School: Smyrna School District

Smyrna, Delaware

This proposal is for incorporating hydroponics into the agriscience curriculum. The school district grants science credit for the completion of the program's aquaculture course which opens the program to more students. The hands-on component will help students accomplish the Delaware Standards in Agriscience Education. The project helps integrate skills in hydroponics with plant science, animal science, soil science, agriscience systems technology, and agribusinesses.

Proposal Number: 1999-04996

Project Director(s): Brian Feldpausch

Project Title: Agricultural Business and Science Instruction Through Classroom Modules

School: Monticello Community High School

Monticello, Iowa

This proposal is for establishing modular learning stations within the agriculture department. Activities at these stations will focus on agricultural careers, technical agriculture (such as precision farming technology, landscaping, and agribusiness management). These learning stations will assist students in exploring career opportunities and assist the program with articulation agreements with community colleges. The modules will supplement traditional instruction while increasing student productivity and comprehension of agriculture technical and career skills.

Proposal Number: 1999-04998

Project Director(s): Amy Greenberg

Project Title: Franklinton Agricultural Modules of Excellence

School: Franklinton High School

Franklinton, North Carolina

This proposal focuses on developing integrated competency based modules. These modules will provide career awareness and experiential learning. Selection and development of the modules will be based on the results of a community summit. The school is located in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina. This area is renowned nationally for agricultural employment opportunities.

Proposal Number: 1999-05000

Project Director(s): Karen Sondak, Rochelle Garrett

Project Title: Project Aquaponics: Linking Youth to a Successful Future Career in Agriscience

School: Santa Cruz District # 35

Tumacacori, Arizona

This project focuses on the extension and expansion of the current aquaponics program. The project director, in cooperation with the University of Arizona and local agribusiness, will develop new curriculum in aquaponics marketing. Students will be involved in all phases on the project including job shadowing with local agribusiness firms. The project also is located in an area of high unemployment and serves a diverse audience. Information from the program will be distributed locally as well as through the National Science Teachers Conference. The project incorporates both agriscience and agribusiness. Revenues from the project will be able to sustain it, at least in part, beyond USDA funding.

Proposal Number: 1999-05003

Project Director(s): Michael Earll, Jason Brockshus

Project Title: Ag Education/FFA Agriscience Technology Laboratory

School: Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School

Sibley, Iowa

This project supplements traditional teaching methods with computer aided instruction modules to be housed in a new agriscience technology computer laboratory. By providing additional technical support, students will be able to explore topics more in depth, or sample from a variety of topics at their own pace giving an added venue for career exploration.

Proposal Number: 1999-05006

Project Director(s): Steve Smith

Project Title: Development of Graphic Slides to Support Agricultural Literacy in Secondary Schools

School: Alamance Burlington Schools

Burlington, North Carolina

North Carolina's Vocational Competency Achievement Tracking System, VoCATS, provides teachers with course blueprints and teaching competencies. In two years, VoCATS post test scores will be part of the statewide accountability program. There is concern about the impact of accountability standards on administrative pressures for high test scores. New technologies will allow VoCAT competencies to be adequately covered without unduly impacting time from other classroom activities. By developing a slide series incorporating VoCATS standards and disseminating that slide series into the public domain, teachers in North Carolina will have access to quality graphic slides without concerns of copyright infringement.

Proposal Number: 1999-05007

Project Director(s): Daniel Striegel

Project Title: Keota Expanded Agronomy Project (KEAP)

School: Keota Community School District

Keota, Iowa

This project is for the construction of a greenhouse, expansion of the horticulture program, and for the promotion of agricultural careers. Construction of the greenhouse will be done by the students. The project fits well into the needs of the community. Continued operation of the greenhouse will be through project sales, thereby strengthening the agribusiness management program.

Proposal Number: 1999-05008

Project Director(s): Larry Farlee

Project Title: Vocational Agriculture Curriculum Enhancement Through Technology

School: Hickman County School District

Clinton, Kentucky

The rationale for the project is based on a survey of 8^th and 11^th/12^th grade students by the project director. The purpose of the survey was to determine post-graduation plans, current or planned involvement in the high school agriculture program, and whether increased emphasis in agriculture technology as part of the curriculum would attract more students. This survey was followed up by a telephone survey of local businesses and agencies to help identify need areas in education programs about agriculture technology. The grant was prepare around the interest and need areas identified by the surveys. The grant will be used to provide instructional modules (self-paced) to allow students to explore a wide variety of agricultural careers. The modules also allow for cross-curricular programming with other subject matter areas.

Proposal Number: 1999-05009

Project Director(s): Richard Feezel, Mark Jones

Project Title: Tools and Techniques of Precision Farming

School: Pikeland Community Unit School District #10

Pittsfield, Illinois

This project focuses on incorporating GPS and GIS systems into a variety of curricula including agriscience, business, and consumer education courses. The project demonstrates strong linkages with a local community college which provides additional resources in terms of expertise. Students with experience in GPS and GIS are currently in strong demand. This demand is expected to continue for some time. The project incorporates agribusiness by focusing on maximum economic yield versus maximum physical yield. This has implications for environmental science and public policy courses as well.

Proposal Number: 1999-05010

Project Director(s): Harmon Bliss

Project Title: Jetmore Outdoor Agricultural and Wildlife Learning Site

School: Unified School District 227, Jetmore

Jetmore, Kansas

This project is for the development of an outdoor agricultural and wildlife learning site. The design of the project will allow a variety of disciplines to use the site as an experiential learning laboratory. Programming for the site includes usage by elementary and middle school teachers as well as the teachers in the targeted grades of 9-12.

Proposal Number: 1999-05013

Project Director(s): Nancy Carlson, Roseann Roback

Project Title: Growing the Green Connection

School: Thornwood High School

South Holland, Illinois

This project addresses promoting agricultural literacy and career awareness to a mostly minority audience. Agriculture often has trouble attracting minorities as parents often see only the manual labor aspects and do not see agriculture as a way to professional success. Much of the effort will focus on developing recruiting agricultural professionals as mentors and in arranging job shadowing experiences. This can be critically important in connecting with youth from any background.

Proposal Number: 1999-05016

Project Director(s): William Demoss, Kellie Coonrad

Project Title: Breaking Agriculture's Human Resource Barrier - The Valley Model

School: Weld County School District RE-1

Gilcrest, Colorado

This project will expand the current horticultural program through the addition of a smaller greenhouse for germination and maintenance of stock plants (larger facility is already in place for growing out plants), acquisition of scientific equipment, and the acquisition of teaching materials. The project is part of a pilot 2+2+2 program with a local community college and Colorado State University. The connection between the local high school, community college, and a four year institution was well received by the reviewers.

Proposal Number: 1999-05018

Project Director(s): Shirley Tautolo

Project Title: Meeting a "Growing" Need for Careers in Agriscience

School: Huron School District

New Boston, Michigan

This project will use the grant funds to purchase plant growth stations. These stations consist of hydroponics, aquaponics, controlled light environment, control station (normal light and soil conditions), and natural light in indoor settings. The stations will give the students an opportunity to do agriscience experiments under controlled conditions and compare that with natural conditions. A portion of the funds will be used to cover expenses associated with a speaker at the annual career fair.

Proposal Number: 1999-05020

Project Director(s): Tim Redburn, Chris Brusnighan

Project Title: Water and Soil Quality Improvement Program

School: Estrella Mountain School

Komatke Village, Arizona

This project focuses on improving the educational quality of water and soil management curriculum. The main objective of the water management course is to improve the quality of water and soil used in family and community gardens. By purchasing and learning to properly use new lab equipment, students will be better prepared to monitor water and control water conditions to reduce salinity. Students also will learn to monitor and adjust soil Ph levels which will allow for better management of soil nutrients. The project involves collaboration with the Science and English departments. The English department is assisting with writing assignments geared around the learning laboratory.

Proposal Number: 1999-05021

Project Director(s): Russell Graves

Project Title: Rolling Plains Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Research Project

School: Childress Independent School District

Childress, Texas

This project provides students with exposure to an ongoing field study of the Black-Tailed Prairie Dog. By including students in such a detailed study and incorporating related elements into the course work, students will have a stronger appreciation for agriscience research.

Proposal Number: 1999-05023

Project Director(s): Richard Cooper

Project Title: Pacific Rim Agriculture

School: Port Orford-Langlois School District

Port Orford, Oregon

This project incorporates both elements of agribusiness and agriscience. Funds will be used to upgrade the cranberry bog and the greenhouse to industry standards, to create curriculum modules on agricultural careers, to establish 2+2 articulation agreements with community colleges, to provide training opportunities for staff on biotechnology, to provide students with experiential learning opportunities, and to develop materials that will allow the program to reach diverse audiences.

Proposal Number: 1999-05026

Project Director(s): Maxson Sherman, Ronald Barker, Terry Bradfield

Project Title: Alternative Growing Biologic Environment (AGBE)

School: Canby High School

Canby, Oregon

This builds on an existing project between the agriculture and biology department. The pre-existing project has been successful in attracting extramural funding. This phase of the project focuses on micro-propagation techniques, marketing, and the development of student-taught adult education classes. Students are also involved in working with the elementary school to promote agricultural literacy. The project has a high level of student involvement and a history of success. There is the potential for this project to include other academic disciplines.

Proposal Number: 1999-05027

Project Director(s): Steve Prewitt

Project Title: McCreary High School Greenhouse Project

School: McCreary Central High School

Stearns, Kentucky

This proposal is for the construction of a greenhouse. This greenhouse will serve as a learning laboratory allowing the school to improve the quality of its agriscience program and to increase its course offerings. This project is endorsed by the business and marketing teachers. Continuation plans rely heavily on funds generated from the greenhouse.

Proposal Number: 1999-05028

Project Director(s): Tom Sawyer, Richard Rogers, Barbara Waters

Project Title: Developing an Arboretum to Teach Horticulture Concepts to Promote Career Awareness

School: East Carteret High School

Beaufort, North Carolina

Students will be involved in the physical design and layout as well as with researching plant species for the establishment of an Arboretum. Opportunities to expand career knowledge while developing the arboretum will be gained via a series of field trips. The educational impact of the project will be ongoing as it will become a learning laboratory.

Proposal Number: 1999-05030

Project Director(s): April Pernell

Project Title: Austin Boulevard Community Garden Project

School: J. Sterling Morton High School

Cicero, Illinois

This project proposes to establish a Community Garden Center in an urban setting. The project will focus on plant identification, fruit tree production and grafting, tree propagation and pruning, fruit and vegetable production, and landscape design and maintenance. Other discipline are interested in using the garden as a learning laboratory.

Proposal Number: 1999-05031

Project Director(s): V. Lee Weis

Project Title: AGY (Agribusiness Greenhouse for Youth)

School: USD #307 Ell Saline

Salina, Kansas

Project AGY (Agribusiness Greenhouse for Youth) promotes agricultural literacy to both traditional and non-traditional agriculture education students. Traditional students must often consider, often by necessity, non-traditional career paths to retain their connection to agriculture. The non-traditional programming of horticulture (especially in a region where large scale traditional agriculture is the norm) can be attractive to students who perceive they have no agricultural connection and whose views of agriculture are often limited to production agriculture. Funds under this program will be used to construct a greenhouse along with the development and implementation of related curriculum. The project, while focusing on capital expenditure, clearly shows how it relates to the school's mission and to the objectives of this grant program. The program has strong ties to a local technical college and a branch campus of Kansas State University.

Proposal Number: 1999-05032

Project Director(s): Timothy Dowling, Deborah Jamieson, Martin Mahar

Project Title: Integrating Traditional Disciplines with Aquaculture

School: Lubec Consolidated Schools, MSAD # 19

Lubec, Maine

This school has initiated an aquaculture program that has been certified by the Maine Department of Education. The program integrates traditional disciplines such as biology, math, and chemistry with a comprehensive plant and animal program. The program includes statistically rigorous feeding experiments, water quality monitoring, and contact with the local salmon and mussel aquaculture industry. Students keep lab notebooks on the experiments and are encouraged, with instructor guidance, to carry out their own experiments. A strong collaborative partnership with a local area community college is already established.

Proposal Number: 1999-05036

Project Director(s): Paul Heasley, John Hopkins, Douglas Ripka

Project Title: Intra-disciplinary Approach to Agriculture Mechanics, Electromechanical Technology and Physics

School: State College Area School District

State College, Pennsylvania

This proposal is to develop a linkage between agricultural mechanics and physics. This link is very real and helps provide the agriculture students with a scientific understanding of principles affecting agrimechanics. It also provides physics students with practical applications to scientific principles. A projected outcome is that students will be exposed to career opportunities that previously may not have seemed realistic. This is in keeping with the goals of this grant program.