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Farm & Research Associate SAE – Lane Drewery


Lesson Plans & Curriculum
High School
60 minutes

This National FFA lesson plan explores an agricultural research SAE through the story of FFA member Lane Drewery, who works at Agricenter International. Students watch a video about his SAE, complete a webquest about the research company, and investigate agricultural research sites operated by land-grant universities in their own state.

At a glance

Learning objectives
  • Explore an agricultural research SAE.
  • Investigate the impact of agricultural research.
Time required
60 minutes (*Time requirements may vary based upon student understanding and class schedule.)
Grade level
Grades 9 and 10
Materials
  • A copy of the "Agricultural Research" worksheet for each student
  • Internet access to play the video in real-time or embed it in a PowerPoint ahead of time
  • Devices to complete a webquest
Vocabulary
Internship; Production Agriculture; Research
Cross-Curricular Connections
Technology — Complete a webquest about Agricenter International and then research the agricultural research sites provided by land-grant universities.
Resources/References
Video: "Farm & Research Associate SAE," https://vimeo.com/857915280; Website: "Agricenter International," https://www.agricenter.org/
Virtual Instruction Ideas
This entire lesson can be taught virtually. All student handouts can be sent or posted electronically.

Download Video

Farm Research SAE

Lane Drewry, a recent Carville High School graduate, shares his journey as a farm and research associate at Agricenter International. He operates large equipment and has hands-on experience in crop spraying and agricultural research. His education, including a landscape management class, has been vital. Drewry highlights the importance of public speaking and leadership skills gained through FFA and encourages seeking advice from leaders for career growth.

Downloads & Links

Aligned Standards

AFNR Career Ready Practices

  • CRP.02Apply appropriate academic and technical skills. Career-ready individuals readily access and use the knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education to be more productive.
  • CRP.04Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason. Career-ready individuals communicate thoughts, ideas and action plans with clarity, whether using written, verbal and/or visual methods.
  • CRP.06Demonstrate creativity and innovation.
  • CRP.07Employ valid and reliable research strategies. Career-ready individuals are discerning in accepting and using new information to make decisions, change practices or inform strategies.
  • CRP.11Use technology to enhance productivity. Career-ready individuals find and maximize the productive value of existing and new technology to accomplish workplace tasks and solve workplace problems.

AFNR Cluster Skills

  • CS.05Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career pathways.
  • CS.06Analyze the interaction among AFNR systems in the production, processing and management of food, fiber and fuel and the sustainable use of natural resources.

AFNR Performance Element

  • CS.01Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the agriculture, food & natural resources career cluster.

Common Core – Speaking and Listening

  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.2Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.5Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

Common Core – Writing

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.6Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibility and dynamically.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.8Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the usefulness of each source in answering the research question; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

FFA Precept

  • FFA.PG-I.Professional GrowthAssume responsibility for attaining and improving upon the skills needed for career success.
  • FFA.PL-A.ActionAssume responsibility and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired results, no matter what the goal or task at hand.
  • FFA.PL-C.VisionVisualize the future and how to get there.

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