LEARN HOW AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS WORK
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems gives students hands-on experience with the science, skills, and business of modern agriculture. Students learn through work on a functioning farm while studying soil science, crop production, livestock health and management, water quality, agricultural business, recordkeeping, marketing, and sustainable land-management practices.
INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS
Game of Logging Levels I–IV
WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate
COLLEGE CREDIT
Vermont State University
LAH 1050 — Introduction to Soils
HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT
3 Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems elective credits
Professional English
Technical Math
Technical PE
Global Citizenship
Technical Science
Technical Health*
Technical Art*
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Students learn how the different parts of an agricultural system connect—from soil and water to plants, animals, equipment, business, and environmental stewardship.
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE & PRODUCTION
- Soil science and agronomy
- Crop production systems
- Livestock health and management
- Water quality and resource management
- Sustainable production practices
- Environmental stewardship
AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS & SYSTEMS
- Agricultural business
- Recordkeeping
- Marketing
- Farm systems and operations
- Applied problem-solving
- Technical and workplace skills
SKILLS FOR THE WORKPLACE
Agriculture requires students to combine scientific understanding with practical decision-making. Students develop reliability, problem-solving, safe equipment use, recordkeeping, communication, teamwork, and the ability to work independently in real farm conditions.
The program also gives students opportunities to participate in FFA, SkillsUSA, and National Technical Honor Society, with additional experiences such as Soil & Land Judging and Dairy Foods competitions.
IS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU?
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems may be a good fit for students who enjoy working outdoors, learning by doing, caring for animals or plants, solving practical problems, and understanding how food and agricultural systems work.
Students should be prepared to:
- Work with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
- Use customary and metric measurement
- Read and work with material at approximately a 10th–12th-grade level
- Perform daily farm labor in a variety of weather conditions
- Lift up to 50 pounds independently
- Work both independently and as part of a team
- Work comfortably around power tools and loud equipment
WHERE CAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS TAKE YOU?
ENTER THE AGRICULTURE WORKFORCE
Build practical skills connected to farming, livestock care, crop production, agricultural operations, food systems, and natural-resource work.
CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION
Earn college credit while building a foundation for further study in agriculture, environmental science, food systems, soil science, and natural resources.
DEVELOP LEADERSHIP
Build communication, professionalism, technical skills, and leadership through FFA, SkillsUSA, competitions, and other agricultural experiences.
READY TO GROW YOUR SKILLS?
Interested in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems? Learn more about applying to Green Mountain Tech and start developing the knowledge and hands-on experience to work in agriculture and food systems.
Learn more about Program Instructor Sam Rowley at the link below:
Rooted in Place, Growing Forward: The Story of Sam Rowley