Agriculture
The Agriculture Department at Sycamore High School allows students to gain hands-on experience while teaching them to apply their skills in the areas of science, mechanics, technology, and horticulture.
In addition to the traditional classroom setting, students may work in the woodworking shop, welding shop, small engines and electricity shop, greenhouse, barn, or land lab. Students enrolled in agriculture courses have the opportunity to join FFA — one of the largest student leadership organizations in the country — although this is not a requirement.
Staff
Courses
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Advanced Horticultural Science
In this course, the student will become familiar with the costs of materials, ordering, costs of production, and determining the selling prices.
Agricultural Business
This course will develop students’ understanding of the agricultural industry relating to the United States and World marketplace.
Agriculture Communications and Public Speaking
The purpose of this course is to help students improve their public speaking abilities. Throughout the course, students will practice and develop various academic and real world presentations while relating them to the agriculture industry and the FFA. Students in this course will gain their speech requirement for graduation while being in an Agriculture environment that they are comfortable with.
Semesters: 1 (this course has a blended option)
Prerequisites: Hands on Skills, Introduction to Horticulture, or BSAA
Credit: 1/2
Agriculture Mechanics and Agriculture Construction
This mechanics portion of the course will provide students with hands-on activities in arc welding, oxy-acetylene welding, MIG welding, and small gasoline engines.
Agriculture Mechanics II - Process and Product Development
Students will take the basics that they learned in Ag Mechanics and construction and work with staff and community members to develop products that fit their needs.
Agriculture Senior Career Academy
Students will participate in a real-world experience during this 18-week course.
Biological Science Applications in Agriculture (BSAA)
Biological Science Applications in agriculture-animal, soil, and plant science is a course designed to reinforce and extend student’s understanding of science by associating scientific principles and concepts with relevant applications in agriculture.
Culinary Leadership
This introductory course provides an opportunity for students to learn about the industry of Food Science. In this class, students will learn how to prepare, store, and properly cook their own food.
Hands-on Leadership
This introductory course provides an opportunity for students to learn about the industry of manufacturing.
Hands on Skills
This introductory course provides an opportunity for students to learn how the agricultural industry is organized; its major components; the economic influence of agriculture at state and national levels; and the scope and types of job opportunities in the agricultural field (Agricultural jobs account for 21% of all jobs in Illinois and 22% on the National Level).
Independent Horticulture Internship
Students will work independently with individual maintenance staff or principals at schools around the district (5 elementary, 1 MS, and 1 HS).
Introduction to Horticultural Science
This course is designed to develop student interest in the field of horticulture.
Technical Mathematics
Technical Mathematics is intended primarily for students majoring in a technical-vocational area.
Welding/Metal Fabrication
Students will be learning the basics of welding techniques and metal fabrication such as MIG, TIG, and STICK welding and Plasma cutting, Oxy-Fuel, and CNC cutting techniques.
Student Opportunities
FFA
The FFA membership consists of students enrolled in the Agricultural Education Program. The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through Agriculture Education.