Jessie Shafer   Agricuture Mechanics Teacher     E-mail  shaferj@selsd.com 814-662-2741 ext 2170

 

 Have You “Herd”? You Should Take an AG Class!!

 

The Salisbury Elk Lick School District is located in a small rural community in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, located in the southwestern part of the state. The High School consists of round two hundred students from seventh to twelfth grade. Of the total high school population the agricultural program on average consist of ten students from grades ninth to twelfth.  The Salisbury Elk Lick Agriculture program is a part of the National, Pennsylvania, and Somerset County FFA Associations.  

The agriculture mechanics and production program at Salisbury Elk Lick High School presents students with the opportunity to partake in hands-on and career oriented experience. Student opportunities include engaging in Construction, Horticulture/Floral Design, Livestock Production, Power Equipment and Repair, Veterinary Medicine, and Welding courses. Each program prepares students for careers by attaining various industry certifications as well as networking with local professionals.

The Salisbury Elk-Lick FFA Chapter formally known as the Mt. Davis FFA maintains one hundred percent membership, as very student 9th -12th grade enrolled in an agricultural course must also be an active member. Students in grades 7th and 8th are introduced to the FFA Organization through activities and lesson once a week via “FFA Fridays”. Beyond attending monthly meetings active members take part in County, Regional, and State career development events ranging from livestock evaluation to small gas engine repair and tractor driving. Members also participate in leadership development events, conventions and conferences, as well as exhibit livestock at the same levels.  As a chapter they strive to serve our community by completing at least two community serve projects throughout the school year, partnering with other community organizations such as the Lions Club and Farm Bureau.

The program is deeply rooted in the community as fifty to sixty percent of program graduates go into the local workforce. As such the program works very closely with these future employers through the implementation of a mentor program for grades ninth to eleventh as well as a senior internship program. Several of the programs mentors and or internship sites also serve as active members of the programs local and occupational advisory committees. These partnerships enable the agricultural program to endow learners with 21st century skills needed to achieve success in their endeavors, in the areas of agricultural conservation, education, management, manufacturing, and production.

Career Pathway Students: 7th & 8th grade students must take Discovery and Introduction to Agriculture courses to select an agriculture education career pathway.  Students in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades must complete at least 5.5 credits over their high school career to complete a career pathway. Each school year, students should select a minimum of two courses. In 12th grade, an Ag Internship is available for students who have participated in at least three years of Agriculture classes. As suggested per the National and State the agricultural program follow the three circle model grading policy; Classroom/Lab grades are worth 40%, FFA participation is worth 30%, and SAE records through the AET system are worth 30% of a student’s final class average.

Vision:

 

Over the next five years the Salisbury Elk-Lick Agriculture Program will be one of areas leading supplier of skilled employees for the career tracks of: Construction, Horticulture, Power Equipment and Repair, Veterinary Medicine, and Welding. We will provide the hands-on and career oriented experience outlined by the three circle model of agricultural education; Classroom/Lab grades, FFA, and SAE in everything we do:

1. Engaging with our students, stakeholders, and partners in the local area and cross the state.
2. Integrating our learning, discovery, and engagement missions.
3. Working across disciplines in creative and productive ways.
4. Incorporating goal setting techniques with students to help them achieve expectations.
5. Engaging students in developing problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills.

 

Mission:

The Salisbury Elk-Lick Agriculture program is committed to all students discovering an appreciation for agriculture in the name of producing smarter consumers alongside better producers and skilled workers. This is achieved by offering a broad curriculum consisting of tracks in agricultural systems technology, horticulture, animal science, and veterinary medicine to enable students with marketable 21^st century skills to succeed in their future endeavors. Each of the program tracks is designed to meet the needs of program students by providing real world educational experiences and networking opportunities with in the field of agriculture necessary to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

 

Core Values:

 

Agriculture Education Career Pathways

General Agriculture Pathway:  CIP 01.0000

Grade	Pathway Courses	Other Electives
7th	Discovering Agriculture
8th	Introduction to Agriculture/Horticulture
9th -10th	Animal Science Natural Resources and Ecology Leadership/Career Development	Power Equipment and Repair Green House Management/Floral Independent Study/ SAE
11th -12th	Equine Science Veterinary Science Senior Agriculture Internship	Agriculture Construction Green House Management/Floral Independent Study/ SAE

 

 

Agriculture Mechanics Pathway: CIP 01.0201

Grade	Pathway Courses	Other Electives
7th	Discovering Agriculture
8th	Introduction to Agriculture/Horticulture
9th -10th	Power Equipment and Repair  Leadership/Career Development	Independent Study/ SAE Natural Resources and Ecology Green House Management/Floral
11th -12th	Welding Agriculture Construction Senior Agriculture Internship	Mechanics Lab        Independent Study/ SAE  Green House Management/Floral

 

Class	Length	Credit	Prerequisite
Discovery – 7th Grade	Quarter –  2 Sections 2019-2020 & 2020-2021	0	None
Intro to Agriculture – 8th Grade  *Safe Tractor/ Machine Operation Certified * Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow	Semester –  2 Sections 2020-2021	0	None
Animals Science  - 9th - 12th    *Beef Quality Assurance Certification *Swine Quality Assurance Certification *Avian Technician (Draw Blood for Avian Influenza Test)  Certified * Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow	Year (Large Animal) 2019-2020 & 2021-2022	1	Pass  Intro to Agriculture
Agriculture Construction -  10th - 12th    *OSHA 10 Certification	Year 2019-2020 & 2020-2021	1	Passed Power Equipment and repair
Ag Mechanic Lab	Year 2020-2021 & 2021-2022	1	Program Completers /5.5 Ag credits
Power Equipment and Repair – 9th -10th	Year 2019-2020 & 2020-2021	1	Pass Intro to Agriculture
Independent Study/ SAE  - 9th – 12th	Year	1	Only students who are unable to fit another Agricultural class into their schedule or go to the Vo-Tech in the Afternoon ( can Not be in the Forestry Program)
Equine Science - 10th -12th	Year 2021-2022	1	Pass Animal Science
Veterinary Science- 10th-12th *CVA program	Year 2020-2021	1	Pass Animal Science
NATURAL RESOURCES AND ECOLOGY – 9th -12th	Year 2020-2021	1	Pass  Intro to Agriculture
Greenhouse Management / Floral Design -9th -12th *Pesticide /Sprayers Certification	Year 2020-2021	1	Pass  Intro to Agriculture
Leadership/Career Development -9th -12th	Year 2021-2022	1	None
Welding	Year 2019-2020 & 2020-2021	1	Passed Power Equipment and repair
Senior Agriculture Internship	Year 2021-2022	1	12th grades who have participated in agriculture classes for three years