WEST DE PERE HIGH SCHOOL

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

665 Grant Street, De Pere WI 54115

​

Sammy Van Deurzen

Teacher / FFA Advisor

(920) 362-3045

​

This Mission of Agricultural Education at West De Pere High School is to challenge students to explore and prepare for the diversity of the agriculture industry and careers that it provides.

Program Objectives:

I. To provide a program of instruction and training which will meet the needs of a wide range of students who:

• Plan to enter into Production Agriculture and particularly those who are faced with a need for greater specialization in farming.
• Are interested in Agriculture-related occupations, especially students from urban and rural non-farm homes.
• Plan to continue their education in Agriculture beyond high school.

II. To offer a flexible curriculum with competencies needed by individuals in preparing to engage in production agriculture and occupations other than production agriculture.

III. To understand the role of science and advanced technology in agriculture and develop an appreciation for related careers.

IV. To aid in training students for job entry and to provide the necessary exposure and orientation to encourage further post-secondary training, along with developing agricultural leadership and responsibility

2020-2021 Course Enrollment:

• Small Animal Science: 46
• Large Animal Science: 44
• Horticulture and Landscaping: 19
• Conservation and Natural Resources: 9
• Wildlife and Forestry: 18
• Veterinary Study: 8
• Agrifood Science: 0 - Course offered every other year
• Acellus Agriculture Courses*: 23
• TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 167**

​

*Acellus Ag offered Horticulture A & B, Small Animal Science, and Large Animal Science

** Enrollment was impacted by COVID-19 in 2020-2021 with schedule changes and students attending virtually

Agriculture Education Highlights:

Through agricultural education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:

1. Classroom Instruction:

The Agriculture & Natural Resources Department features the following:

• One to One Technology Inclusion
• 10’ x 17’ Animal Learning Lab and 15’ x 25’ Classroom Lab‘
• 20’ by 45’ Greenhouse
• Fisheries Room containing a 625 gallon aquaculture tank and plant beds
• Curriculum utilizing the MyCAERT programs; includes online text materials
• SMART Board Technologies
• Podcasting in the classroom
• Hands-on Education: taxidermy, fishing lure construction, scale models of golf courses, production of yellow perch, feed formulations, microscopic investigations, genetic studies, animal evaluations, animal grooming & care, and much more.

2. Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE / Work Based Learning):

All students in agricultural education are required to conduct an SAE during their time in class. SAE projects are designed to be tailored to the interests of the student. These experiences require supervision from the ag teacher. Here are some examples:

• Owning animals: beef, swine, dairy, dogs, cats, etc.
• Working for local businesses: cheese store, ag service companies, meat locker, etc.
• Improving wildlife; trapping animals, thinning tree stands, food plot developments, etc.
• Working with plants: working for local greenhouses, planting and harvesting crops, etc.
• General Farm-hand work: milking dairy animals, crop field work, etc.
• Veterinary Care: working for local veterinary clinics in the animal housing areas
• Students are eligible to complete an award application through FFA for their work on their SAE.
• There are over 40 areas students can choose from!!!

3. FFA (Leadership Development):

The West De Pere Agriculture Education Program also has a student organization. Students that are in agriculture education courses are able to be a part of FFA. Dues are $15 the level of involvement will vary with the student’s desires. The FFA chapter has accomplished the following items in 2020-21:

• Developed a Program of Activities focused around Leadership, Community Development and Agriculture Development.
• Students earned different levels of FFA degrees: 6 Greenhand Degrees (First Year Members in High School), 5 Chapter Degrees (Sophomores & Juniors), 1 State Degrees (Seniors & Graduates),
• Community Projects: Trick or Treating for canned goods, Holiday Cards for the local nursing home, Petting Zoo,
• Volunteering : Brown County Breakfast on the Farm, Wisconsin State Fair Discovery Barnyard, Brown County Fair Agventure Tent