A2B-Lancastei' Farming, Saturday, May 6,1989 Ag Classes Near Capacity (Continued from Page A 22) town,” said Seibert. Seibert also went to the students involved in their junior high ag club to learn what they wanted from an ag program. By September 1985, Seibert began formulating Manheim Cen tral’s new curriculum and by fall of 1988 the new curriculum was in place for freshmen. Flexibilty has been designed into the program. Students now have three options; •one shop class and one classroom class •two shop classes or two classroom classes •one shop or one class- room class. This has increased enrollment a great deal because it permits stu dents take an ag class as an elective. Ag Offered As Electives “We opened up the curriculum to make sure students were able to get their math and science credits so they could meet college require ments. Previously our ag students were not interested in college, but now we have a lot more flexibility that allows our students to prepare for college and pursue their inter ests in agriculture, too,” explained Seibert. “Now students have avail able to them many aspects of the program, animal husbandry, lives tock, small gas engines, natural resources, small pet care and more.” McSparran feels the program works because it gives students more options. “Our wide course selection allows them to becme more specialized in a certain aspect of the ag industry,” said McSparran. The program is divided into agricultural mechanics and agri cultural technologies. There is only one requirement for the ag program: students must take the first year program, which is either 1 PAUL B.\ §Ol 000 DO HEADLOCKS ■£* ALSO AVAILABLE • Standard Free Stalls • Fencing • Gates (38” - 48” - 54” • Automatic Head Gates high) • Automatic Gate Latches B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. PAUL Call or Write For Additional Information And Your Nearest Dealer ag mechanics I or ag technologies I. The following year the student is allowed to specialize. “Part of that requirement is to get them in the class. Once we get them in the class we feel we can keep them and we give them a bas ic overview of the agriculture industry,” said Seibert. Ag Tech I includes introductory units on animal science, natural resources and plant science. Stu dents learn the importance of agri culture in Pennsylvania and the world. Also, students explore agricul tural careers and the Future Far mers of America. Ag Mechanics I is the prerequis ite for all other ag mechanics clas ses. It provides a basic overview of ag related repair, construction and maintenance. Shop safety is stressed. Students identify tool and hardware and are instructed on tool use. maintenance, simple metal and wood work, welding basics, painting. Students may also obtain tractor driving certification which is required by law for students who work on any farm other than his or her parents farm. The SOE (Supervised Occupa tional Experience) continues to be an essential learning tool at Man heim Central’s ag program. Each ag technologies student is required to develop one project in either production, work experience or wildlife conservation, or direct laboratory experience. “We still have the pure produc tion ag type student who raises ani mals or crops, but we are also see ing a new type of student who lives in yrban Manheim and can’t have a production project. There are numerous agribusiness companies in the area which are willing to hire ag students. In fact, we receive more calls for students to work on farms or in agri-businesses than we have students available to fill the 295 Woodcorner Rd. Lititz, PA 17543 1 Mile West of Ephrata Phone: 717-738-1121 positions,” said Seibert After completing, Ag Tech I stu dents may specialize in: Natural Resource Management Livestock Production I Livestock Production II Meats and Animal Health and Techniques Livestock Judging along with Public speaking and parliamentary procedures and ag salesmanship Forages and Field Crops, Livestock Feeds and Nutrition. Farm Business Management and Environment Management Genetics and Reproduction, Lab Animals and Pet Care These are units are taught for one semester and are alternated each year to offer students a grea ter variety and to be enable the program to serve more students. After successfully completing Ag Mechanics I students may spe cialize in: -Small gas engines -Agricultural Equipment -Introduction To Construction -Agricultural Welding -Advanced Construction -Tractor Overhaul and Repair THREE SIZES: SMALL ■ For Calves UpTo 15 Months Old ADJUSTABLE ■ For Heifers & Cows 8 Months And Older (Pictured) LARGE- For Cows 15 Months And Older FISHER'S PAINTING FISHER S PAINTING A RESTORATION OUTLET STORE KE9 VRM IVH TQp QUAL|TY p A|NTS y w lPl ■ ALL TYPES OF LADDERS & INTERIOR 4 EXTERIOR ACCESSORIES AT PAINTING LOW PRICES ■ SANDBLASTING ■ WE BUY DIRECT “ CT rant i B roof coating from factory in large U P J ■ RESTORATION 4 QUANTITIES 4 PASS THE SAVINGS WATERPROOFING ON STONE 4 ON TO YOU BRICK BUILDINGS ■ ROOF COATINGS IN VARIOUS W$ Specialize InFern Buildings, a £e L have large lots of factory Churches, Feed Mills, Wuter Funks, discontinued colors. Cl iM/ni a ./f . . MISMATCHES AND JOB LEFTOVERS tie. With Aenul Equipment at very low prices FREE DELIVERY WITHIN 20 MILES STORE. SHOP AND OFFICE LOCATED IN OLD STONE BAR WAT: 4056 A Newport Road, Kinzers, PA 17535 (Across From Pequea Valley School) 717-768-3239 ,v,. iamnu Hay Tedders When it comes to drying hay this versatile machine does it all. With the basket in the raised position it functions as a standard tedder. The hay is lifted, spread and fluffed up for maximum air and light penetration, reducing drying time by up to 50%. With the basket in the lowered position the operator can rake loose hay into windrows and fluff up damp windrows to speed drydown and eliminate raking. HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC. 567 S. Reading Road Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 733-7951 Please Contact Us For Your Nearest Dealer Ag Mechanics Specialities lndividual Ag Mechanics Projects The Senior Coop Work Experi ence is open to seniors completing Ag Tech I or Ag Meet) I plus one semester study in a specialized field. The ag mechanics classes are the most popular, and facilities are filled to capacity for the 1989-90 school year. Dominic Centonze joined the staff as ag instructor two years ago and is also the Young Farmer Advisor. Manheim Central’s Young Farmer Prbgram has the largest paid membership program in the state. With enrollment up, Seibert and Centonze are running out of teach ing time, but they are not com plaining. Seibert will be teaching three shop classes next year. Cen tonze is teaching six which is the limit under the current teachers contract Teachers must-get addi tional compensation when they teach more than six class periods a week. At maximum capacity for the shop, the alternatives are to either Distributed By: begin turning away students which, neither Seibert or Centonze want to do, or to expand class size. For safety reasons, Seibert wants to keep the sh6p class size average at 17. “When you have students work ing with equipment and then instructing the students on the proper use, you shouldn’t have more than 17,” said Seibert. Updating Ag Education Without funding the moderniza tion of Manheim Central’s ag ed department would not have been possible. Obtaining the funding is a long process. First Seibert had to sell die new curriculum and the need for new equipment in the ag department to school administra tors. Getting the council’s approv al allowed Seibert to apply for Fed eral Vocational Education Funds made available under the Perkins Vocational Education Act of 1984. Clair Green, vocational consul tant for the department of educa tion, helped Seibert with the long, complicated application process. Prior to this year, vo ag had received only several hundred dol- (Turn to Pag* A 36) I
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