AT Ag Food Planning Guide.pdf

7/27/2019 AT Ag Food Planning Guide.pdf

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You are probably tired of people asking, What do you want to be when you grow

up? Some students know exactly what they want to do, but most havent got a

clue. The idea of choosing a career is intimidating, and it feels like its far in the

future. Theres little time in the commotion of classes, activities, sports, work, and fun to

think about what career you want to pursue after graduation from high school or college.

It pays, though, to take the time to think about your future career. The truth is that

youll save a lot of time and money if you have a direction in life, as opposed to just

nishing high school and worrying about it later. Its really a matter of dollars and

sense. If you choose a career direction now, you can select classes and activities that will

make you highly marketableand highly paidwhen you look for work. And it only

makes sense to have an idea of what you want to do rather than just wandering aimlessly

through school.

Nobody wants that. Not your parents. Not your teachers. Not your friends. They want

you tobesomebody. They want you to use your talents, follow your interests, and pursue

your ambitions to become great at what you love to

do in life. Thats what you should want, too.

So the time is right to take charge of your life and

think about the future. You need a plan of action

for how to get from where you are today to where

you want to be in a few years: starting out on a

personally and professionally rewarding career.

Thats what AchieveTexas in Actionis all about. The

magazine you are holding is one of 16 guides to different

career clusters. It is designed to help you make smarter

decisions about your education and career options.

Youve heard the phrase, Information is power. Well, this magazine is power. It puts

you squarely in charge of your future, from creating your Texas Achievement Plan (TAP)

(see page 5) to choosing college or some other form of education or training after high

school. Work with your parents, teachers, and counselors to make decisions, but remind

everyone that it isyourfuture at stake and thatyouare taking charge of it.

Get information. Get a plan. Get a clue about your career direction. Its all right if that

direction changes; choosing a direction now is better than having no direction at all. Just

promise yourself that youll make smart choices about where to focus your time, energy,

and passion.

Were proud that you are taking steps to plan your career direction, and we pledge that

your school, teachers, and counselors will do all they can to help you make wise choices

on your plans for success. We wish you the best of luck on your journey.

Dear Texas Student,

Youve HeardTHaT IformaTIo Is

power. well, THIs

magazIe Is power.

IT puTs You I cHarge

of Your fuTure.

WELCOME TO AChEvETExA ACTO


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H Career Areas

Texas launhed a state plan that taets

state effots on sx ndusty lustes that

eonomsts say wll be the ennes of eonom

owth n Texas.

As you plan you futue, thnk about a aee n

one of these new and emen setos.

Advanced echnologies & Manufacturing -Moleculartechnologist -Sensor/roboticsengineer

Aerospace & Defense -Aerospaceengineer -Unmannedautonomousvehicleengineer

Biotechnology & Life Sciences -Bioinformaticsspecialist-Biocontainmenttechnician

Information & Computer echnology

-Systemintegrator-Computergamedeveloper

Petroleum Rening & Chemical Products -Petrochemicalengineer-Reneryprocessdesignengineer

Energy -Wind/solarenergyengineer-Geophysical(oilandgas)prospector

oe ouT ofeverY seve Texas

Is emploYed I agrIculTure.

AgricTr, & ATrA rrc c T TiAmT iATr, Air, , A A.The people who wok n the lustenlude fames and anhes tendn Texas ops and lvestok; utlty opeatos povdn ol,

eletty, and natual as; and onsevatonsts potetn wldeness and wldlfe. They put food on

ou tables and tun aw mateals nto poduts we all use. o students and wokes n Aultue,

ood & atual resoues, the ath s one ant lassoom full of natual wondes to exploe. if

you love to be outdoos, enjoy an fo plants and anmals, and want to help onseve ou natual

esoues, then Aultue, ood & atual resoues ould be the ht aee luste fo you.

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AGrwingField

AchieveTexasinAction:Agriculture,Food&NaturalResources2010 by the Texas duaton Aeny. All hts eseved.


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When I was in high school, says SherylKovach, Human Resources Director ofEnvironmental Services for Philips Services

Corporation in Houston the only job that I evenknew about was receptionist work. I didnt aspire tobe a manager or entrepreneur because I really didnt

know about those disciplines. I was just lookingforward to graduating. That was it. I really didntknow what it was I wanted to do.

Sound familiar? You, too, may not have a clueabout what to do with your life.

Dont worry, though. Help is right here in your

hands. This issue ofAchieveTexas in Actionisyour guide to education and career choices thatcan shape your future. Its one of 16 career clusterguides published by AchieveTexas, Texass college

and career initiative (www.AchieveTexas.org).This edition is all about Agriculture, Food &

Natural Resources.Lets start with some basic steps youshould take to get organized, plan

for the future, and start on theroad to success.

Assess Your Talents and Abilities

First, you need to gure out some things aboutyourself. This step can be as simple as writing downa list of your interests (like video games or rockclimbing), your hopes and dreams (like helpingothers), your talents (like writing or math ability),and your weaknesses (if youre squeamish at thesight of blood, for example, you might not want tobe a doctor).

Follow up on this informal exercise by takingsome formal assessments to determine your interestsand abilities. Common assessments include the

Kuder (www.kuder.com), Bridges (www.bridges.com), Career Cruising (www.careercruising.com ),COIN (www.coinedu.com), and Myers-Briggs (www.myersbriggs.org) tests. These tools give students somecareer exploration awareness by the time they entereighth or ninth grade.

Ask your principal or counselor about the career

assessments available at your school.

T irT T towad suess s makn smatdesons about you eduaton and aee optons.

Plan for

Success

PLA YO CAEE

THe Top fIveagrIculTural commodITIes I Texas are

caTTle ad calves, coTTo, broIler

cHIckes, greeHouse/urserY

producTs, ad daIrY producTs.

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Research Your Career Options

Once youve learned about yourself, learn moreabout your career options. There are thousands ofoccupations out there of which you may never have

heard, and others that do not yet exist because thetechnologies have not been developed. Fortunately,there are plenty of resources (see inside back cover) for

you, and they are as close as the nearest computer.One of the most helpful is the Occupation and Skill

Computer-Assisted Researcher (or OSCAR, for short)from the Texas Workforce Commission. It is a vastdatabase of information about hundreds of professions.

You can nd OSCAR at www.ioscar.org/tx. Anothergood place to start is O*NET (www.onetcenter.org).

Gather information about what you can earn in thecareers in which you are interested. Find out whetherthe careers you are considering have a promisingfutureare they adding or losing jobs? Check out theeducation youll need to enter those careers.

The chart on pages 1011 presents data on 25possible professions. Remember, though, that theseare just a sampling of careers available in the cluster.Go to OSCAR, O*NET, or another resource toinvestigate other careers.

Create Your TAP

Once you have a better idea of your interests andabilities, you are ready to plan for high school andbeyond. The Texas Achievement Plan, or TAP, is yourplan for preparing for the career of your choice.

The rst step is for students to choose a cluster, nota particular occupational goal. In the eighth gradea student might choose Agriculture and then later

become interested in a narrower eld such as farmmanagement or large animal care or environmentalengineering. The program of study you chooseyour

plandoes not stop with graduation from highschool, a student could then pursue a two-year degree

as a geological technician or a four-year degree as awildlife biologist.

You should set up a TAP that takes you throughcareer preparation after high school, revising your

blueprint as needed as you go along. If your careerplans include college study, ask your counselor abouttests required for admission to college, such as thePSAT, SAT, or ACT.

Seek Out Special Programs

Many Texas schools offer innovative programsto prepare students for specic career areas. Theseinclude career and technical education (CTE)programs, academies, and magnet schools. Once youve

decided on a career direction, ask your counselorabout special programs in your area that may providerelated experiences in your chosen career.

Samuel Odamah enrolled in the architectureprogram at the University of Texas at Arlington,having found his career calling at Dallass SkylineCareer Development Center, a high school with careerprograms in a number of different elds.

Skyline is one of the few schools in the country

that offer programs in architecture, Odamah says.In some careers, Skyline students could even getprofessional certications or licenses right in highschool. It was a great place because you could nd outwhether you really wanted to enter a career.

Odamah says that the career cluster system atSkyline taught him the value of planning for his careerand his life. We learned about planning ahead, hesays. Those who plan things ahead of time dont haveto catch up. Its just a matter of what a person wants out

of life. Planning gives you a better platform for success.

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Agriculture,Food & NaturalResources CTSOs

One of the best ways to acquire

out-of-class experience in

your chosen career is by

joining a career and technical

student organization (CTSO).In Agriculture, Food & Natural

Resources, the most helpful

CTSOs are:

BusinessProfessionals ofAmerica(BPA) www.texasbpa.com

Family,CareerandCommunityLeadersofAmerica(FCCLA)

www.texasfccla.org

FutureBusinessLeaders ofAmerica(FBLA) www.txfbla.org

TexasFFAAssociation www.texasffa.org


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PLA YO CAEE

in Texas, TAs (Texas Ahevement lans) wll ude students hh shool andollee expeenes (seenextpage). As pat of ths poess, students fous thestudes wthn a hosen aee luste and poam of study.

Career Clusters& Prgrams f Study ?WHAT ARE

C L U S T E R

Agriculture, Food &Natural Resources

Agricu ltural Financial Manager

Veterinary Science

Floral Design

Meat Processor

Wind Energy Technician

Agricultural Financial Manager

Veterinary Science

Floral Design

Meat Processor

Wind Energy Technician

P R O G R A M S O F S T U D Y E X A M P L E O C C U P A T I O N S

Animal Systems

Food Products & Processing Systems

Plant Systems

Agribusiness Systems

Environmental Service Systems

Power, Structural & Technical Systems

Animal Systems

Food Products & Processing Systems

Plant Systems

Agribusiness Systems

Environmental Service Systems

Power, Structural & Technical Systems

Wildlife BiologistWildlife BiologistNatural Resources SystemsNatural Resources Systems

Agricultural EngineerAgricultural Engineer

Biotechnology TechnicianBiotechnologyBiotechnology Biotechnology Technician

PLA YO CAEE

Acareer cluster is a group of occupations and broad industriesthat share certain features. The Agriculture, Food &Natural Resources cluster, for example, includes agricultural

engineers and meat processors. Texas has adopted 16 careerclusters (see back cover), the same ones designated and developedby the U.S. Department of Education. As the graphic belowshows, within each cluster are programs of study, which are morespecic groupings of similar occupations. Think of a programof study as being like a college major. In Agriculture, Food &Natural Resources, you might choose to focus on Agribusiness

Systems in high school and college.

elated Occupations

Each program of study includes a range of related occupations;agriculture nancial manager is an example of an occupationthat falls within Agribusiness Systems. Choosing a career clusterand program of study will help you acquire the knowledge andskills youll need to enter your chosen career. It will allow you to

follow a seamless course of study from high school into collegeor other postsecondary education or training. The electives youchoose can complement your core academic classes to prepare

you for the challenges of the real world of work.

eiew Your TAP Eac Year

Dont get locked into a cluster and program of study you dontlike. You should reexamine your TAP at least once a year andchange pathways or clusters if your interests have changed.Choosing a cluster and program of study, even if they change

later, means that youll have a direction in life. The idea is to beaware of whats going on in your life and take control of yourfuture. When you know where your education is going and why,

your classes will become more meaningful. Youll make contactwith students, teachers, and employers who share your interestin a particular career area. Youll have experiences that are funand exciting. Youll be on your way to success in school, in acareer, and in life.

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ACareer Portfolio(seepage15) s aood way to oanze nfomaton about youeduatonal expeenes, eod esults ofaee nteest and abltes assessments,and hold examples of you best wok.inlude a TA n you potfolo.

icextended leann atvtes that omplementyou lasses (seepage14). ok on ommunty

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spent takn you oe aadem ouses. By

aefully seletn you eletves, you an et

the eduaton and expeene you need to stat

towad the pofesson of you hoe.

ATAP is a Texas Achievement Plan, and its a smart

idea to create one to guide your studies throughhigh school and into college or other postsecondary

education or training. Your TAP represents your chanceto take control of your education and career choices.Working with your parents/guardians and guidancecounselor, you can pick the cluster on which youwant to focus your studies as well as your career and

postsecondary education goals. Dont worry. You arent

locked into your choices. You should revisit your TAPat least once a year to update it. You can change clusters,programs of study, and career and postsecondary goals as

your interests and ambitions change. Having a planevenif it changesis smarter than having no idea of what youwant to do and why you are attending school. Heres howto ll out your TAP.

?WHAT IS ATAP

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iTbasnfomaton suh as

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Agriculture is often misunderstood as being all cows, sowsand plows, says Joe Townsend, associate dean in the Collegeof Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.

But theres a lot more to it than farming. In fact, Townsend saysthat close to 70 percent of students currently pursuing degrees inAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources grew up in cities, not on

farms or ranches.Indeed, this cluster can prepare students for careers as varied as

ghting bioterrorism, keeping the food supply safe, and developinghealthy menus for astronauts. This cluster has enough jobs, in fact, toemploy about 20 percent of all U.S. workers.

A reen TumbIf you like designing things and guring out how they work, forexample, agricultural engineering might be for you. Do you have agreen thumb? Consider becoming a orist or greenhouse manager.

If you enjoy spending time surrounded by nature, you might make agood wildlife manager, sh and game ofcer, or forest ranger.

If nutrition interests you, look into becoming a food scientist.Environmentally responsible? Become a recycling technician.You can even nd jobs in this cluster that are related to recreationalfacilities, such as being a turf manager at a golf course or a rangemanager for a hunting ranch.

Make te World

a Better PlaceSome students go into science,

some into sales and marketing,and still others will be

lobbyists or leaders ingovernment, Townsendsays. Were all aboutmaking the world abetter place.

One of the most promising career areas in the cluster is veterinarytechnology, a eld that is expected to expand because the number ofpets people own is on the rise. In addition to working in communityveterinary clinics, vet technicians can specialize in a species or inareas such as articial insemination.

A new and emerging career option is biotechnology, which

involves working to ensure that we have a safe and healthy foodsupply. Jobs in this high-paying eld include developing geneticallyaltered plants that dont need insecticide or that dont need muchwater so they can grow in drought conditionsas well as helping toprevent outbreaks of E. coli that contaminate the food supply.

AquafarmingAquaculture, which deals with subjects such as sh farming andkeeping streams and oceans healthy, is another rapidly expandingeld that pays well. Water is becoming a precious commodity and

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Page 6

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This is a projection of 10 fast-growing careers in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources in Texas from the year2006 to 2016 and the number of new jobs created in each occupation. Note that while the percentage of growthin jobs may be high, the actual number of jobs created may be low. Source: Texas Workforce Commission.

10 Fast-Grwing Careers


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o you likeworkingoutdoors?

Are you goodwith animals?

Are youorganized?

o you likeworking withyour hands?

Are youinterested inenvironmentalissues?

o you likeworking withtools andmachinery?

o you enjoygardening?

o you likehunting andfshing?

Are youinterestedin biologicalsciences?

o you likecamping?

Q

UI

Z8. 9. 10.

s Agriculture, ood & atural esources te

rigt cluster for you? Take tis quiz to nd out.

Answer yes or no to te following questions.

If you answered yes to ve or more of the above questions, Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources may bethe right cluster for you. To get a more specic and scientic measurement of your attitudes and abilities,ask your guidance counselor or teacher about taking a career assessment test or interest inventory.

5. 6. 7.2. 3. 4.1.

we have to do a better job of taking care of that resource, includingmaintaining a safe and healthy water supply. Texas needs everything

from water monitoring technicians to welders who can lay pipelines.This is denitely an up-and-coming area.

Management of natural resources is also important to thetourism industry. Hunting is popular in Texas, says Dr. StevenFraze who is the Department Chairman, Agriculture Educationand Communications at Texas Tech University. In some partsof the state, he points out, the game population is as importanteconomically as livestock on farms. Professionals in environmentalprotection help ensure that game populations remain stable.

Horticulture, including oral design and landscaping of

residential lawns and gardens, is another popular area of study inthe cluster. Turf grass is huge, says Fraze. Horticulture as a wholecontributes $14.9 billion to the state economy each year and employsalmost 200,000 Texans.

Page 7

This is a chart of hourly wages for 10 of the top-paying careers in the Agriculture, Food & NaturalResources cluster in Texas. Note how entry-level wages are often much lower than pay for the averageworker and experienced workers in each profession. Source: Texas Workforce Commission.

10 Tp-Paying CareersDown on te arm

Of course, farming is still a big part of the Agriculture, Food & Natural

Resources cluster. More than 14 percent of working Texans are

employed in farming, ranching, or other agriculture-related jobs, notesKirk Edney, curriculum specialista t Texas A&M University. About12% of our states population is located in rural areas, so that impact isfelt even more deeply there.

Agricultural careers run the whole gamut, including commoditybrokers, agricultural economists, embryo technologist, and food andber engineers. Engineering applications are evident throughout theindustry, such as electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

Data management careers deal with global positioning systems andgeographical information systems. Students can nd a place in thiscluster to showcase their strengths.

Big Business, Big Opportunities

Graduates wont have to look very far for jobs, either. Texas is second inthe nation in agricultural producing states. The food, horticulture, andber industry is the second-largest industry in Texas, generating $106billion a year, or about 8.4 percent of the total gross state product.

Job security is another major advantage to a career in this cluster.

Agriculture touches every aspect of our lives, notes Todd Staples,Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Our population is projectedto double by the year 2060, and that will place enormous demandson the food, ber, and horticulturalinfrastructure. No matter if theeconomy is good or bad, peoplehave to eat. Career opportunitiesthroughout the cluster are expectedto remain strong for at least the nextve years, he stresses. After all, he

notes, agriculture islife.


10/24

O ThE JOB

High-Grwth

Michelle Pittmans work is out ofthis worldliterally. Pittman, aregistered dietitian for Lockheed

Martin Space Operations, works on acontract basis for NASA developing menusfor the space shuttle crew. Its interesting.Its fun. And its always changing, she says.

Her favorite part is meeting the

astronauts and having them sample thefood shes considering for the menus. Aboutsix months before a launch, she invites theshuttle crew to taste test 4050 differentitems. They rate them, and then I usetheir scores to develop the menus they willbe using in space as well as for the sevendays they will be in quarantine before thelaunch, explains Pittman.

After shes designed the menus, Pittmanputs the data into a software programthat runs a nutritional analysis on thefood. That helps me ensure that the food

meets the daily needs for calories, protein,vitamins, and minerals, she says.

Yet the menus are just a part ofwhat Pittman handles. I have to

understand thewhole process

of getting a foodshipmentto the

international space station, she explains.I have to consider how the food items arepacked, how they get into the shuttle, andwhat happens when theyre in space.

Keeping informed of the latest nutritionanews is also important. As a dietitian,Pittman is required to take 75 hours of

continuing education every ve years. Im

always learning new things, she says.

Wildlife ureys

There are no typical job duties inAgriculture, Food & Natural Resourcesbecause careers in the cluster are so varied.

For example, wildlife biologist Dana Wrighworks in the Paducah eld ofce of theTexas Parks & Wildlife Department, andher duties involve performing regularwildlife surveys from the air.

Every January she climbs into a helicopteto y over a nine-county region to countmule deer. In June, she peers out the

What Employers Want

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Page 8

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window of a xed-wing airplane to countpronghorn antelope. For surveying bird

species, she uses a car.I drive a 20-mile route at 20 miles per

hour and report all the birds I see alongthat route, she says. When Im surveyingmourning doves in May, I start at sunrise andstop every mile and listen for three minutesto count how many I can hear calling. Shedoes similar counts of quail in August andpheasants in October.

Wright works with people, too. She helpsgraduate students do wildlife researchprojects, and presents educational programs

at schools and civic clubs. She also develops

wildlife management plans for ranchers andfarmers, helping them accomplish goals suchas growing bigger bucks or improving theirquail habitat.

Business Eperience

John Chumbley wears two agricultural hats.He spends most of his time as the president

of the Dorchester Grain Company, a grainelevator business that buys wheat, corn,

and soybeans from farmers and then resellsthem. But in his newest venture, a small

business known as Chumbley Genetics, heraises and sells show pigs.

A friend and I just decided to try it, hesays. Were trying to raise good animalsthat people appreciate. So far, hes beensuccessful; the list of awards his pigs have wonis impressive. Chumbley oversees the feedingand breeding of 40 sows and 12 boars, sellinghis swine mainly to participants in 4-Hand FFA who are interested in raising and

showing them. I have a grandson in Junior

FFA who shows, he notes. Winning is good,but the learning experience is valuable.

Women at Work

Ellen Brisendine believes in charting newterritory. Brisendine is the rst female editor ofThe Cattleman, the Texas and Southwestern

Cattle Raisers Associations magazine, sinceits founding in 1914. There are plenty of

opportunities for women in Agriculture, Food& Natural Resources, she says. Theres no

reason for gender to get in the way.Brisendine writes, assigns, and edits

stories, interviewing sources and meetingwith freelance writers daily. Today Imworking on an article on water quality, shesays. Tomorrow Ill be working on an articleabout beef. She also works closely withphotographers and graphic artists.

Her position requires not only a solidknowledge of English, but also strong self

discipline and a good work ethic. As she

points out, Every month is a deadline.

Page 9

cHeck ouT THese excITIg careers I agrIculTure, food & aTural resources.


12/24

SC ccupation Growth penings Wages Education

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19-1023 ZoologistandWildlifeBiologist 18.0% 10 $35,100 bh

17-2081 nvironmentalngineer 24.0% 180 $67,000 bh

25-9021 CooperativextensionAgent 11.0% 30 $23,900 bh

19-1031 Conservationcientist 19.0% 40 $54,700 bh

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45-1012 FarmLaborContractor 10.5% 10 $17,609 w in in t

45-1011 First-LinepervisorofFarming,Fishing,andForestryWorers 12.0% 70 $28,700 w in in t

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27-1023 FloralDesigner 17.0% 240 $21,700 mt-t n-th-j tini

39-2011 AnimalTrainer 25.0% 50 $27,700 mt-t n-th-j tini

45-4011 ForestandConservationWorer 9.0% 15 $33,609 mt-t n-th-j tini

37-2021 PestControlWorer 12.1% 205 $30,400 mt-t n-th-j tini

45-2021 AnimalBreeder 17.0% 10 $32,300 mt-t n-th-j tini

45-2091 AgricltralqipmentOperator 15.0% 180 $17,700 sht-t n-th-j tinin

39-2021 onfarmAnimalCaretaer 21.0% 400 $18,200 sht-t n-th-j tinin

37-3013 TreeTrimmerandPrner 16.0% 70 $25,900 sht-t n-th-j tinin

37-3011 LandscapingandGrondseepingWorer 22.0% 2,740 $19,900 sht-t n-th-j tinin

Page 10

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13/24

Education Levels Job Description

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14/24

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Russell Gravess students cant wait toget to class each day. But you wontnecessarily nd them sitting in neat

rows of desks, reading from textbooksor watching instructional videos. Their

favorite classroom is a 90-acre land labpurchased with a grant from the NationalFish and Wildlife Foundation.

One section is a controlled research area

with an 8-foot-tall fence where students dogenetic and nutritional research with ourown herd of white-tailed deer, explainsGraves, an agricultural science instructorat Childress High School in Childress.They look at things like whether feedingthe deer supplemental protein will increaseantler growth. Some of the land is openrange, where students research topics such

as prescribed burning, planting food plotswith winter-hardy plants, or creating awetland for waterfowl.

Programs of tudy

Not all high school programs in theAgriculture, Food & Natural Resourcescluster have 90-acre classrooms, but manyof them involve similar opportunities thathelp students learn through doing.

Course work in the cluster providesa foundation for study of any of seven

different specialty areas (see ProgramProles at left). Each of the programs ofstudy in the cluster offer overview classes awell as more advanced classes.

For example, Introduction to

Agricultural Science provides an overviewof agricultural science and technology,while Leadership and Communicationsdevelops more specic communication

skills in an agricultural setting.Agribusiness Management presents

the basic management concepts andskills needed for managing any kind ofagribusiness, from a cattle ranch to a oweshop. Food Technology gives studentsan overview of food technology topics,including food production and processingand the government regulations that ensur

the safety of our food supply.

Master te Basics

Dr. Steven Fraze, the DepartmentChairman of Agricultural Education andCommunications at Texas Tech Universityin Lubbock, says his department is lookingfor high school graduates who have takenand mastered rigorous academic classesmath, science, English, and social studies.

I want the very best performers in highschool in all subjects, he says, students

Page 12

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15/24

who understand science and scientic

processes, students who communicate well,in writing as well as orally.Fraze says students who come out of high

school with a broad and strong academicbase hold the keys for success in college andin careers in agriculture. I want students

with inquisitive minds who have learnedto be self-starters, he says, because what Iwant is what the industry wants.

nique Opportunities

The 90-acre land laboratory at ChildressHigh School is not the only example of

unusual classroom learning opportunitiesoffered in Agriculture, Food & NaturalResources. Several agriscience magnet

schools located in Texas offer uniqueopportunities.

At James Madison High School in SanAntonio, for example, Northeast AgriscienceMagnet Program Director John Mackproudly cites the facilities available to hisstudents. Even though were an urbanschool, he says, We have a 15-acre school

farm with a big barn housing 350 head of

livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats,swine, poultry, and rabbits.We have an aquaculture center with huge

tanks and a pond [see In the Swim below]and a horticulture center with a state-of-the-art greenhouse, garden plots, and orchard.

Our meat-processing lab includes asmokehouse, hanging coolers, and freezers,Mack continues. Students learn about meatprocessing and making specialty productslike jerky. In our mechanized agriculturelab, students do everything from restoringvintage tractors and building trailers to

concrete and electrical work.These hands-on activities not only makelearning more interesting, they give students

the kind of experience that makes themstronger job candidates.

ndustry Certications

Certications of specic skills, usuallyadministered by industry associations inconjunction with courses taught in highschool, work to students advantage. Earning

any one of a few dozen different certicates

offered in the agriculture cluster makesthem better candidates for employment.For example, a student who earns the high

school oral certication regulated by theTexas State Florists Association (TSFA) canbegin working as an entry-level orist rather

than as an assistant.To earn the certication, students must

complete a year long Texas EducationAgency approved oral design curriculumand then pass both a written and a practicalexam administered by the TSFA.

Other popular certication programs

include certied landscape technician, meatprocessing, Texas master gardener, andcertied veterinary assistant.

These certication programs givestudents an advantage in the employmentmarketplace and are also valuable forcollege-bound students. If students areworking while attending college, thecertication enables them to land better jobsthat will pay more toward their education.

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Page 13

S P o T L I G H T


16/24

Lauren Schroeder graduated with adegree in animal science from TexasA&M University in 2006. While in

high school, she was involved in livestockjudging with 4-H and attended summerlivestock judging camps for high schoolstudents at Texas A&M for two years.

It was a great experience, she says.Students practice judging and giving oral

explanations of their decisions. It teachescritical thinking skills because judgeshave to make a prompt decision and thendefend it. It also teaches speaking and

communication skills and helps themdevelop the self-condence to speak infront of a group of people, she adds.

A variety of Opportunities

Some of the most valuable lessons high

school students in Agriculture, Food &Natural Resources learn evolve outside the

classroom. Extendedlearning

opportunities come in many varieties,including special summer programs likethe one Schroeder attended, summeror after-school jobs, internships, jobshadowing, student organizations,volunteering, and work-based learningprograms that allow students to split theirtime between school and working in anoccupation that interests them.

Popular areas include jobs inlandscaping, small-engine equipmentrepair, meat departments at supermarkets,and horticulture. A lot of students

working in the gardening department ofconglomerates like Home Depot.

Logan West, now a sophomore atTexas A&M University, worked for a localfeed store in the afternoons during hissenior year. I kept the warehouse clean,

unloaded shipments, took inventory, andsold feed and pharmaceuticals, he says.It was a great experience. I earned anincome and it was good for my resume,too. I learned accounting principles that Istill use today.

nternsips

Not all extended learning opportunitiesallow students to collect paychecks, buteven if the positions are unpaid, they

provide plenty of other payoffs, notesKirk Edney, a curriculum specialist atTexas A&M University.

Students interested in animalscience who have an internship witha veterinarian might not get paid, heexplains, but the internship makesit easier for student to get accepted toveterinary school after college, and that

isnt always easy.Some elds or jobs limit student

participation for legal reasons. For example,employees have to be over 18 to operate a

meat slicer, Edney says. But there are plentyof other jobs students can do.

tudent Organizations

Groups such as 4-H and FFA areespecially rich in hands-on learning

opportunities (see CultivatingLeadership), as well as scholarshipseach organization provides $2 million inscholarship money in Texas every year.FFA has more than 72,000 high schoolmembers across Texas, representingabout 65 percent of all the states

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resourcestudents. The 4-H program offers 92

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Page 14

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17/24

Page 15

project areas to its 650,000 Texasmembers, who range in age from9 to 19.

Were known for livestock-relatedprojects, says Jeff Howard, associatestate program leader for 4-H & YouthDevelopment. But we do more than that.For example, our statewide technologyteam works with web development,

computer applications, and even theGlobal Positioning System.

volunteering

Volunteer work is yet another rich

opportunity for students to gain experienceoutside the classroom.

Students in agriculturalmechanics might enjoy volunteeringfor organizations like Habitat forHumanity, Edney suggests. If you area horticulture student, you can lookfor civic beautication projects aroundtown, he adds. County fairs offerstill more opportunities for volunteers,maybe working at the childrens

barnyard or being an educational expertwho explains agriculture to fair visitors.

S P o T L I G H T

CLIAING LEADERSHIPFFAandFBLABildPersonalillsforccess

crAT a caeerTiOne valuable tool that can help you getready for college and beyond is a careerportfolioa collection of items thatdocument your achievements both inand out of school, assembled in oneconvenient package.

A career portfolio is not simplya resume, although it can certainly

include one. So what should go in acareer portfolio? A variety of things,depending on your own personalexperiences. It could include transcriptsand grades; writing samples; lettersof recommendation from teachers,mentors, or employers; awards youvereceived; and items that documentother activities, such as internships and

job shadowing experiences.

You need to be specicdates, howmany years, any awards, what theymeant, and who you received themfrom, says Grace Brauchle, who helpsstudents put their portfolios togetheras the career center coordinator forLehman High School in Kyle.

Brauchle says portfolios come inhandy when students apply for jobs oradmission to college. First impressions

are a very big thing, she says, andyou want to be the one whose papersget passed around the ofce. You wantto be the one where the admissionscounselors say, Wow, look at this one!

And a portfolio doesnt have to besimply a collection of papers. Artistsand photographers use their portfoliosto provide visual examples of their

work, and so can you. Do you havephotos of someone giving you anaward? Put them in. How about a videoof a performance? Include it on a DVD.Do you have experience in Web design?Make an online portfolio to showcasewhat you can do.

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Wine making is a $200 millionindustry in Texas. To become part ofthe industry, students can pursue a

two-year associates degree in viticulture andenologyalso known as grape growing and

wine makingfrom one of the few degreeprograms in the country specializing in thisarea. Grayson County Community Collegein Denison teaches winery operations,management, production, and marketingin short, everything students need to knowto turn grapes into gold.

Postsecondary Options

Graysons program is just one of the

interesting options for graduates inAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources.Students can go immediately into the

workforce, or can attend one-year certicateprograms, two-year associates degreeprograms like Graysons, or four-yearbachelors degree programs. The choice isdetermined by how much education andtraining a particular eld of interest requires.

There are probably 40 communitycolleges in Texas that offer programs inagriculture and life sciences, notes JoeTownsend, associate dean in the Collegeof Agriculture and Life Sciences at TexasA&M University. Students can turn manyof these two-year degrees into four-year

programs, he adds, taking their education tothe next level.

Agricultural Tecnicians

An example of a popular two-year degreeprogram (with a one-year certicate option)is the John Deere agricultural technicianprogram at Navarro College in Corsicana,which teaches students every aspect of

servicing John Deere equipment.Theres a tremendous demand for

technicians in this area, notes JohnDawley, department chair and instructorwith the Agricultural Technology programat Navarro. Most of the students will

graduate with job offers from a John Deeredealership.

Here are just a few other examples ofcommunity colleges with two-year programs

(many with one-year certicate options inthe same subjects):

Texas State Technical College in Wacooffers a dozen programs in dieselequipment technology. Those who go tothe colleges Texas State Marine EducationCenter in Palacios can get a marinespecialization.

Cedar Valley College in Lancaster offers

an accredited veterinary technologyprogram. Graduates are eligible to take

the examination to become registeredveterinary technicians (RVTs). CedarValley has an agreement with the

University of North Texas that allowsits vet tech students to apply all of theircredits toward a bachelors degree inapplied technology and performanceimprovement.

Western Texas College in Snyder offersa golf course and landscape technologyprogram that will allow graduates tobegin their careers as assistant golf

course superintendents or as irrigation orpesticide technicians. Associates degreegraduates can nd jobs in the landscapeand irrigation industry, in parks andrecreation, or in sales of horticulturalproducts or turf and landscapeequipment.

Page 16

ATE hh ChOOL

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students should pusueaddtonal eduatonn Aultue, ood &atual resoues. Degrees of

THe 2007 u.s. cesus of agrIculTure recorded

229,000 farms I Texasad a sTaTewIde eT farm Icome of $12.6 bIllIo.

Success


19/24

Clarendon College in Clarendon offers awell-respected ranch and feedlot operationsprogramone of only two in the country. Therequired courses cover a variety of both technicaland management skills designed to teachstudents how to own and operate an efcient andprotable ranch or feedlot operation.

Richland College, one of seven two-year collegesin the Dallas County Community CollegeDistrict, has an ornamental horticulturetechnology program that offers a numberof certicates, including technician, oral/

interiorscape specialist, irrigation specialist,nursery/greenhouse management specialist,landscape/turf management specialist, andlandscape design specialist.

our-Year Degrees

High school graduates in this cluster also have theoption of applying to four-year bachelors degreeprograms, either immediately after high school orby transferring from a two-year degree programat a community college. The majority of thesestudents attend one of the two largest schools ofagriculture and natural resources in Texas, Texas

A&M University and Texas Tech University.Texas A&Ms College of Agriculture and LifeSciences in College Station

offers dozens of bachelorsand masters degrees,

including thosein agribusiness,

agriculturalcommunicationsand journalism,animal breeding

and genetics,biotechnology,

dairy science,environmental

studies, sheriesscience, forestry,

nutritional sciences,horticulture, natural resources

development, poultry science,rangeland ecology and management, and wildlife

scienceto name just a few.Texas Techs College of Agricultural

Sciences and Natural Resources in Lubbockoffers numerous programs: agricultural andapplied economics, agricultural education andcommunications, animal and food sciences,landscape architecture, plant and soil science, andnatural resources management.

Texas Techs agricultural education program

prepares students for careers as teachers. Theresa growing demand for high school agricultureteachers, says Matt Baker, department chair.Fifteen hundred agriculture teachers in the stateare nearing retirement age.

Another four-year program is the farm andranch management program at Texas ChristianUniversity in Fort Worth. This curriculum isappropriate for students who want to go intoagricultural resource management in traditional

occupations as well as such cutting-edge areas ascommodity investment, agricultural marketing,and international agricultural trade.

raduate Degrees

Students who want to further their education inAgriculture, Food & Natural Resources for morethan four years can continue to work toward a

masters and even a doctorate degree.For example, the University of Texas at Dallas(UT Dallas) is known for its pioneering workin developing a graduate certicate program ingeospatial information sciences (GIS), a fast-growingeld that combines data collection, mapmaking,

and spatial analysis using the increasingly popularGlobal Positioning System (GPS).

UT Dallass innovative program covers the useof GIS in more traditional environmental andgeological applications as well as in newer areas

such as government and business. Students whosuccessfully complete all ve classes in the program

to receive the certicate can then count those classestoward a master of science degree in geospatialinformation sciences. For those who dont want tostop there, UT Dallas recently began offering one ofthe nations rst Ph.D. degrees in GIS.

GIS careers are in high demand, notes KirkEdney, curriculum specialist at Texas A&MUniversity, which also offers a graduate degree

in GIS. This is a new and emerging occupationworth keeping an eye on.

THere are

38.66 mIllIo acresof croplad I Texas.

Page 17

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20/24

1. Make chool Your Job

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Page 18

Ayin t i t ik kin j tyin t t. Y h thin tht intty, n thn ty y t t nvin hv i in h tht y hv ht it tk t t

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Admissions


21/24

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iyou et aepted to ollee, youllneve be able to pay the bll, ht? on! Theesnanal ad avalable f you know whee to look.

FinancialAidBASICS

Page 19


22/24

Page 20

doesthat mean?

LOOK T P

AcieeTeas: the name for Texasscollege and career education initiative.

Articulation agreements:

formal agreements between or amongeducational organizations (high schools,community colleges, and universities)that align courses and majors in a waythat allows students to transition from

one institution to another without lossof course credit or time.

Associates degree: a two-yeardegree awarded by a community ortechnical college.

Bacelors degree: a four-yeardegree awarded by a university.

Career and tecnical student

organizations (CTOs): curricularorganizations for students that offeractivities and competitions related toparticular careers.

Career cluster:a way of organizingcurricula, instruction, and assessmentaround specic occupational groups (for

example, Information Technology or HealthScience) that offers students core academics,coursework related to specic occupations,and extended learning experiences.

Career guidance:structureddevelopmental experiences presentedsystematically from kindergarten through12th grade that help students analyze andevaluate abilities, skills, and interests.

Career portfolio:a collection of studentwork indicating progress made in subjects,activities, or programs. In career clustersystems, portfolios are often used to assess

student performance in extended learningexperiences.

Doctoral degree: a degree awardedby universities for study beyond a mastersdegree. Also referred to as a Ph.D. orprofessional degree.

Dual credit:credit given in both high

school and college for college-level coursestaken while in high school.

Etended learning eperiences:

participation in career and technical studentorganizations, extracurricular activities, jobshadowing, internships, or service learning.

inancial aid: scholarships, grants, loans,and work-study funds awarded to students

to pay for college expenses.

nternsip: an extended learning

experience in which students worktemporarily at entry-level jobs in careersthat interest them.

Job sadowing: an extended learningexperience in which students observeprofessionals in particular careers as they go

through a day on the job.

Masters degree: a degree awarded byuniversities for study beyond a bachelorsdegree.

Postsecondary education:

education beyond high school. Middleschool and high school are referred to assecondary education, sopostsecondarymeansafter high school.

Program of study: a way of organizingthe curricula and educational activitieswithin a career cluster related to a studentsspecic academic and career goal.

erice learning: an extended learningexperience in which students do volunteerwork related to their career goals.

Targeted industry clusters:

six industry clusters that have beenidentied by Texas as high-demand, high-growth sectors paying high wages. As theyare developed by the State, these may be hotareas in which to build a rewarding career.

What

iT ! ee ae key wods and phasesused n ths ude that you may not aleady know.

Teas Acieement Plan (TAP):

an education plan suggesting the highschool courses a student should taketo prepare successfully for graduation

and transition into postsecondary

education. The vision for AchieveTexasis that eighth graders, in consultationwith their parents/guardians,counselors, and teachers, will selecta program of study and create a TAP.TAPs are to be reviewed and revised atleast once each school year.


23/24

ask osCarTh stt T h t i it tnt n th

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y tin qint. ch rt t th tt

th n y ti t th j, inin j ti,

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iiti n th tin. Th ny th y t i

thh th t t y tin, a sn t

zit. T oscar, t www.ioscar.org/tx.

Online

xploe these intenet esoues fo moeabout you eduaton and aee optons.

Inf

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thi tin, CareerDirect,in ith y hi n th h y nt t i, thn

h h y tit n tt th y y hn j. Th it, hih

i t www.cdr.state.tx.us/realitycheck, i t y t y ht i hn it t iin y j,

nin, n n tin.

Take aReality

AcieeTeas

www.AchieveTexas.orgThe AchieveTexas website offersinformation about the initiative andcopies of the programs of study thatrecommend classes to take in highschool, extended learning opportunities,and postsecondary programs.

Americas Career nfoet

www.acinet.org/acinet

This is the place to search for occupationalinformation, industry information, andstate-specic labor market information.

Competency Model Clearingouse

www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/default.aspxThis is a career planning resource focuses onthe skill sets and competencies essential forcareers and industries.

College for Teans

www.collegefortexans.comHere is everything a Texan needs to knowabout preparing for, applying for, and payingfor college or technical school. And its all inone up-to-date, easy-to-navigate mega-sitealmost as big as the state itself. Remember:$4 billion is available every year to help Texansattend college.

College Tec Prep of Teas

www.techpreptexas.orgTech Prep is a way to begin your courseof study in high school and continue ina community or technical college. The

result is a certicate or associates degreein a career eld.

O*ET

(Occupational Information Network)www.onetcenter.orgAlso available in schools and libraries,O*NET provides full information onoccupations, including compensation,employment prospects, and skill matchingfor students. Information on compensationis available on a state-by-state basis.

.. Department of Labor

Occupational Outlook handbook

www.bls.gov/ocoThis nationally recognized resource offersinformation on job responsibilities,

earnings, working conditions, and jobprospects for the future.

Check

TheresultsofRealityCheckshowyouhowexpensesaddupquicklywhenyouarelivingonyourown.

TDET EOCE


24/24

The career clusters icons above are used with permission of theStates Career Clusters Initiative, 2010. For more information, visitwww.careerclusters.org.

AchieveTexas Career Clusters

pin, tin, ititin, nnt it iti nnt

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About AchieveexasYou may ae seen te name AcieeTeas on te coer of tis magazine. Wat eactly is tat?

Well, AchieveTexas is the name of Texass college and career education initiative. The idea behind it is

simple: Planning for the future so that students achieve lifelong success. As AchieveTexas grows, youll

see how subjects such as English, math, science, and social studies are relevant to your personal goals

and ambitions. Youll get the chance to begin a plan that gets you where you want to go in life. Youll have

the opportunity to take courses and engage in extended learning experiences that give you marketable

skills. Best of all, youll be in control of your future. Read all 16 editions ofAchieveTexas in Action(available

through your counselor) to explore Texass career clusters and start on the road to success.

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AT Ag Food Planning Guide.pdf

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