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Agriculture
Page 16 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com

Agriculture Program at Park Rapids Schools named Outstanding

Middle/Secondary Ag Ed Program by NAEE! Continued from Page 1
ing project (for students who don’t have strictly guest speakers from colleges, universities, and
ag-related projects). Since 2019, students have careers in the agriculture industry.
tracked over 17,000 hours in their work-based All teachers associated with Park Rapids
learning projects. Implementing Work-Based Ag Education are considered mentors and
Learning has helped to pave the way for our FFA leaders among their respective cohorts and
members to complete their degrees and applica- strive to support each other and other ag teach-
tions and has helped all of our students learn to ers in whatever ways they can. We don’t seek
evaluate and document their skill development. the spotlight for ourselves, but the publicity that
Every student has the opportunity to receive rec- we have done and the involvement that we have
ognition for their work through their degrees, seen from our students has not gone unnoticed
applications and certifications. by our community. Each year, the Park Rapids
We have developed strong relationships Rotary Club gives out the Hewitt Family Youth
with a variety of businesses in our community. Service Award to an individual who has “made
Our members have benefited from the depth of Park Rapids a better place for children.” In 2024,
knowledge and support that our community has the advisors of the Park Rapids FFA Chapter
to offer, and we are extremely thankful for the were recognized as the recipients of the Hewitt
ways in which the Park Rapids Area community Family Youth Service Award. This award was
has stepped up to help our students learn the skills completely unexpected and unlooked-for. Above
they need to be successful with their contests. all else, as teachers, we strive to make our class-
In Junior Capstone and Senior Capstone, rooms, our program, and our community a better
students are presented with the opportunity place for all children. This type of award is given
to prepare for life after high school through a in recognition of a lifetime or career of service to
Courses currently offered in the Park tion with real specimens. variety of lessons. These courses were created as students, and to be recognized at this level after
Rapids Agriculture program include: • In Landscape Design, students have done companion courses, to provide the opportunity only five years in our community was extremely
• Animal Systems: Companion Animal landscaping projects to help beautify the for all students, not just Ag students, to prepare humbling and gratifying. This award shows not
Care, Animal Science, Veterinary school. for the next steps in their journey after high only the work we have done to coach and guide
Science • For Turfgrass Management, students school. Students complete personality surveys, our students, but also the work that our students
• Plant Systems: Horticulture, Turfgrass gain real experience caring for our base- career exploration surveys, navigate the college have put in to put our program on the map.
Management, Landscape Design ball and softball diamonds. application process, learn how to apply for finan- Congratulations and way to go!
• Agribusiness Systems: Agribusiness • In World Foods, students research about cial aid, complete their FAFSA applications,
and Economics, Ag Occupations (Work- the agriculture and cultural identity conduct job shadows and career interviews, write
Based Learning) of countries around the world. After resumes and cover letters, complete scholar- parkrapids.k12.mn.us
• Natural Resource Systems: Forestry, teaching the rest of the class about their ship applications, practice their interview skills,
create a budget, as well as hear from numerous
Minnesota Outdoors, Wildlife Manage- selected country, they will prepare a
ment meal from that country to attempt to gain
• Food Products and Processing Systems: a better understanding.
Nutrition in the Kitchen, Food Science, • In both Veterinary Science and Animal Strategic Initiative Grants fund proj-
World Foods Science, students have the opportunity Agriculture Grants ects supporting Agriculture, Food &
• Power, Structural, and Technical to dissect piglets and do the occasional Natural Resources (AFNR) educa-
Systems: Basic Plumbing and Electrical livestock necropsy when opportunities Federal Carl D. Perkins Career and tion. These grants focus on improving
Wiring, Intro to Metals arise. Technical Education (CTE) Act of programs, expanding access to under-
• Cluster Skills: Life Skills 101, Junior All three teachers in the program are also 2018 (Perkins V) represented students, and teacher
Capstone, Senior Capstone, Intro to FFA advisors. Since the re-chartering in 2019, Perkins V improves and expands professional development. Applications
AFNR Park Rapids has an affiliated membership services for students enrolled in CTE are accepted from primary, secondary,
• Multiple Pathways: 7th Grade Introduc- structure in FFA, which means that all students programs. It provides an increased focus and postsecondary educators, with an
tion to Agriculture, 7th Grade STEM, 8th enrolled in an agriculture class in grades 7-12 are on the academic achievement of CTE average award of approximately $7,200.
Grade Manufacturing/Transportation automatically FFA members. Our students have students, strengthening the connections https://mn.gov/maelc/grants.html
completed hundreds of community service hours
Park Rapids students experience the and spent thousands of hours on their work-based between secondary and postsecondary FFA Grants
classroom in far more ways than worksheets learning projects and have seen great success in education, and improving state and local Minnesota FFA grants and schol-
and textbooks. We utilize the surrounding area FFA. Our chapter ranked Silver in both 2023 and accountability. Allocation procedures arships offer over $2 million annually
as often as we can to help students engage 2024 and received a Gold ranking in 2025 and vary, but agriculture programs can often to students and chapters for projects,
with the material in a meaningful way. Some 2026 on the National Chapter Award Application. access between $1,000 to several thou- SAEs, and education. Key opportunities
examples include: Our program is young, but has seen immense sands of dollars per year for innovative include the Minnesota FFA Founda-
• For MN Outdoors, students take a canoe growth and success since 2019. equipment, work-based learning oppor- tion Legacy Club Grant (up to $1,500)
trip on the Crow Wing River to test their Park Rapids was a pilot program for the tunities, teacher recruitment efforts, and national grants for service-learn-
outdoor skills, observe wildlife, and to Agricultural Diversity and Leadership/Technical career exploration, and local needs ing ($3,000) or SAE growth ($1,000).
develop an appreciation for our natural Skill Challenge (ADLTS) grant from 2020 - 2024. assessment. Applications generally target chapter
resources. This allowed us to expand to affiliate member- https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/ development, community engagement,
• In Forestry, students travel the school ship and paid for a chapter subscription to the cte/perk and individual student advancement.
grounds on multiple occasions doing a Agricultural Experience Tracker (AET). Every MAELC Strategic Initiative Grants https://www.mnffa.org/grants-scholar-
compass course, navigating GPS way- student enrolled in an Ag Class at Park Rapids The Minnesota Agricultural Edu- ships
points, cruising timber, taking increment Area Schools uses the AET to create and keep cation Leadership Council (MAELC)
borer samples, and learning identifica- records for their SAE or their Work-Based Learn-