Welcome to the Agricultural Sciences Department!

Course Offerings:

Agricultural Survey

Agricultural Survey is an introductory course which will orient students to the field of agriculture and its many facets. It provides the background students need for making decisions with respect to the specific areas of agriculture in which they might be interested. Short units on agriculture occupations in both production and non-production areas provide the student with a "jumping off" place for further study in agriculture. This survey course will also include the FFA unit.

Plant Science

Plant and Soil Science is centered mainly around field and horticultural crops and cultural practices which pertain to them. Soils and soil fertility, with specific detail allotted to fertilizer and the fertilizer response of various crops, are covered. Basic plant structure and plant growth are covered. All students will have an individual soil test from either fields, gardens, or lawns and will be able to interpret these tests to make specific recommendation for any fertility requirements that may be necessary.
Duel Credit through Blackhawk Technical College is available to standards at no charge see Mr. Rupp for details

Animal Science

Animal Science is designed around the specific management practices of large animals. The basic animal functions of growth, maintenance, production, and reproduction are covered with respect to the influence of the nutrient classes. Detailed units in nutrition as well as digestion and reproductive physiology for farm animals are included. Units involving the environment and safety are included.
Dual Credit through Blackhawk Technical College is available to standards at no charge see Mr. Rupp for details

Environmental Conservation

Conservation is designed to expose students to the ideas that many of our natural resources are finite. Both renewable and nonrenewable resources are covered as well as the laws which pertain to them. Units include ecology, soil, water, forests, wilderness, wildlife, minerals, population, air pollution, and recreation. Also covered are urban and suburban conservation problems, natural resource management, and careers. Students will raise perch each year in aquaculture.

Horiculture

Horticulture is a class designed to manage the Randolph High School greenhouse. The class is responsible for the production and management of nearly 10,000 plants annually. Units covered include propagation, plant physiology, respiration and photosynthesis, disease and insect control, and plant growth and fertilizer response. A detailed landscape unit is also included.

Small Animal Care & Management

Small Animal Care & Management is a course designed to explore the pet and companion animal industry as well as laboratory animals and their role in research. It is designed to give students a background in feeding, reproduction, anatomy and physiology, diseases and ailments, and handling and training. Also covered are housing and equipment requirements for pet, companion and laboratory animals. Students in the Small Animal Care & Management course will also spend time studying the requirements for the veterinary industry with regards to small animals. This class will spend a considerable amount of time taking care of the animals in the animal lab.

Agricultural Processing/Food Science (Team Teach with FCS)

This course looks at the processes and science behind food production. Students will apply chemistry to the food science labs to understand the science behind food processing. In addition, students will look at the consumer and their relationship with food, marketing and health. There are five main units of labs including preservatives, sugars, fats, colors, and flavors. Students will conduct a number of lab activities to understand how these five food substances impact consumer choices. This class is very hands on and requires student participation.

Agricultural Leadership

Leadership is a course designed to define and discuss leadership styles and to promote leadership among class members. All students will complete resumes, develop a portfolio, become proficient in parliamentary procedure, and complete college and scholarship applications as well as all award applications for which they might be qualified. Class Management Teams (CMT’s) will plan and organize tours, secure class speakers, and organize class presentations. Personal leadership skills and initiatives in the areas of stress management, insurance, personal finance, communications, money management, cultural diversity, public policy, and goal setting will also be studied.

Ag Computations

Agricultural Computations covers a basic review of general mathematics, including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as they relate to agriculture. Fractions, percentages, graphs and area measurements will also be covered. Following the general review, production problems will be covered in the areas of crops, soils, horticulture, weather, animal science, agricultural mechanization, environment and agricultural marketing and management.

Farm and Business Management

The fall semester includes detailed units in the management of production areas. Supply and demand, law of diminishing returns, fixed and variable costs, and opportunity costs are discussed. Conclusions are drawn as to alternatives to predict prices and yields. The spring semester deals with cooperatives, taxes, farm law (which includes area representatives in the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate as well as the U.S. Congress), the extension service, and job interview and resumes. This course is aligned with the State Financial Literacy Standards.
Dual Credit through Blackhawk Technical College is available to standards at no charge see Mr. Rupp for details