Richland Agricultural Science Department

1. Richland Agricultural Science Department Programof Activities Information Packet 2010-2011

2. Table of Contents • Agreements……………………..3 • Contact Information…………… • Current Courses Offered……….. • FFA Officers…………………….. • FFA Information………………... • Official Dress…………………... • Participation Opportunities…… • SAEs…………………………... • Calendar………………………. • Potential costs…………….. • Support……………………….

3. Program Agreement As a part of the Sunnyvale High School agriculture program, I understand that I am to conduct myself at all times in order to credit my, organization, school, and community. This includes but is not limited to: • Showing Respect to others and their property • Being honest and not taking advantage of others • Dressing appropriately for the occasion • Demonstrating good sportsmanship at the appropriate venues • Remaining prompt at every class, event, or meeting • Appreciating and promoting diversity in the program • Having modesty in winning and generosity in defeat • Practicing proper safety procedures in correct situations • Sharing my experiences and knowledge with others • Refraining from the use of inappropriate language or behavior If on a trip with the chapter, not adhering to the above may result in parent pick up from chapter’s current location Student Date Parent Date

4. Chapter Officers As a chapter officer I understand that along with the privileges of being an officer comes responsibilities. In order to keep my office and remain in good standing with the chapter I accept the below responsibilities as well as specific responsibilities assigned to my individual office. A chapter officer must: • Be enrolled in an agricultural education class • Pay all current FFA dues • Attend all mandatory meetings, officer & chapter • Maintain at least a “C” average • Behave appropriately, remembering that you represent not only yourself, but your chapter and your school • Have an SAE project • Have up to date record book • Participate in at least 1 LDE, CDE, or Speaking Event event • Participate in all chapter fundraisers • Aide in recruitment efforts • Attend chapter banquet • NOT receive any disciplinary action that results in ISS, suspension, etc. Student Date Parent Date

5. Contact Information Ms. Roni Crow Phone # School: (817) 547-7330 Email: Roni.Crow@birdvilleschools.net My conference period is from 1:31pm-2:20pm every day. If you would like to set up a meeting please call or drop by.

6. 2010-2011 Courses • Floral Design • Horticulture 1 and 2 • Advanced Animal Science • Metal Fabrication and Technology • Wildlife and Fisheries Management

7. Record Books Every student enrolled in an agricultural science course is required by state law to complete a record book. The record books will be online using the AET program. Students will have to keep a record over activities done in class as well as outside of class time that relates to the program, SAE, FFA, etc. Once a week the students will be given the opportunity in class to work on their record books. Students will receive a grade in the course based on their record books being up to date and accurate.

8. FFA Officers President- Vice President- Secretary- Treasurer- Reporter- Sentinel- Student Advisor-

9. Information about the FFA • Mission • The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. • Motto • Learning to do Doing to learn Earning to live Living to serve • Colors • National Blue • Corn Gold • Information attained from the National FFA Website

10. FFA Creed By: E.M. Tiffany • I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years. • I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny. • I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil. • I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me. • I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task. • Information attained from the National FFA Website

11. Official Dress • Official Dress MUST be worn at all official FFA events, at all times, unless other instructions are given by teacher, and teacher only! • Female Official Dress • Black skirt - Skirt is to be at least knee length, hemmed evenly across the bottom, with a slit no longer than 2 inches above the knee, excluding the kick pleat • White collared blouse & Official FFA blue scarf • Black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe (no boots, sandals, open-toed shoes, tennis shoes) • Black nylon hosiery • Official FFA jacket zipped to the top. • Male Official Dress • Black dress pants (no jeans - blue or black, leather, pleather, etc.) • White dress shirt & Official FFA tie • Black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe. (no boots, sandals, open-toed shoes, tennis shoes, ) • Black socks • Official FFA jacket zipped to the top • Information attained from the National FFA Website

12. Possible Leadership Development Events • Creed Speaking • 1 person, Recite the FFA Creed from memory and answer two related questions • Radio • 3 people, Perform a radio broadcast, as if the broadcast was part of an ongoing weekly radio show • Skills Demonstration • 3-5 people, Demonstrate a skill that can be learned in an any one of the agricultural education classrooms • Chapter Conducting • 8 people, Parliamentary procedure, hold a mock meeting and apply proper parliamentary procedure to scenario given • Public Relations • Publicize Texas FFA to selected audience and answer questions about the presentation • FFA Quiz • 4 people, Take a test over FFA knowledge, the information comes from the FFA Handbook, and Gray’s parliamentary guide • Job Interview • 1 person, Develop a resume, apply for a job, and participate in a mock interview • Information attained from the Texas FFA Website

13. Possible Career Development Events • Dairy Foods • Evaluate milk, identify cheeses, distinguish real and artificial dairy foods • Entomology • Identification of insects • Livestock Evaluation • Evaluate cattle, swine, sheep, and goats according to market standards • Wildlife • Identify plant species, proper habitat management practices, safety procedure, game laws, as well as compass and pacing skills • Nursery & Landscape • Identification and evaluation of nursery and landscape plants • Floriculture • Identification and evaluation of floriculture plants • Farm Business Management • Test over farm business management knowledge • Information attained from the Texas FFA Website

14. Possible Speaking Events • Extemporaneous Speaking • 3-5 minute speech, topic given to you at competition • Prepared Public Speaking • Sr. 6-8min. Jr. 4-6min. speech, topic of your choice, memorized before competition • Information attained from the Texas FFA Website

15. Supervised Agricultural Experience • SAE: Learning by Doing - A Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE) is a key component of agricultural education. While working on an SAE project, students learn to apply the concepts and principles taught in their agriculture classes to real-world problems and scenarios. A student selects an SAE project based on his or her interest in at least 1 of 7 areas. • Information attained from the National FFA Website

16. SAE Continued • Exploratory - Learn about the big picture of agriculture and its many related careers. • Research/Experimentation and Analysis - Conduct research and analyze information to discover new knowledge. • Entrepreneurship - Plan and operate an agriculture-related business. • Placement - Work for a business or individual, either for pay or for the experience. • Improvement - Mostly designed improvement, development, upgrade, refinement, enhancement, or renovation of a situation. • Communication - Related but not limited to journalistic interests. • Directed School Laboratory - SAE where the learning takes place in the facilities • For more information please ask the Ag Science teacher.

17. Important Fall Dates • September • 2nd Goat Validation Deadline • 2nd Area Greenhand Camp Registration • 7th First Meeting, 7:00 PM • 10thOfficer Elections in Class • 11thArea Greenhand Camp • 13thDistrict Meeting at Arlington Heights • 24th- Oct 15th State Fair • October • 1st Calf Scramble entries become available • 5th Ag Awareness Day @ State Fair • 19th-23rd National Convention • 28th Heifer info due for HLSR • November • 8th LDE Competition in Springtown • 9th Ft. Worth Show Entries Due • 18thHLSR Show Entries Due • 20th Area LDE Competition @ Krum • December • 6th District Banquet in Brock • 3rd - 4th State LDE Competition@ Sam Houston

18. Important Spring Dates • January • 14th – Feb. 5th Ft. Worth Livestock Show • February • 8th District FFA Meeting in Aledo • 10th National FFA Scholarship Deadline • 20th-26th National FFA Week • 22nd FFA Day at the Capital @ Austin • 24th State Scholarship Applications Due • March • 1st-20th Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo • 24th Invitational CDE @ Tarleton • 26th Texas A&M Judging Clinic • April • 6th Area CDE Contest @ Tarleton • 7th State Scholarship Prescore • 7th Area Horse Judging @ NCTC • 8th-9th State Scholarship Area Interviews @ Howe • 12th Region 5 Wildlife Competition • 13th Bi Area CDE @ A&M Commerce • 16th State CDE @ Texas Tech • 26th State CDE @ Tarleton • May • 6thState CDE @ Sam Houston • 7th State CDE @ Texas A&M • 10th State Wildlife Competition, District Degree Check • 12th Chapter FFA Banquet • 14th Area Degree Check • 20th Area Convention • 26th Area Leadership Camp & State Convention Registration Due

19. Important Summer Dates • June • 9th-10th State Scholarship Interviews & Degree Check • 13th-14th Area Leadership Camp (A) • 15thAgriScience Fair Deadline • 20th-21st Area Leadership Camp (B) • July • 10th-15th State Convention @ Lubbock

20. Potential Costs

21. Support • A program is only as good as the support it gets from its parents and community members. If you would like to help or get involved, please let the ag teacher know, and he will try his best to utilize you. Thank you very much for your support!