Pathway Overview

Agricultural Education is composed of three distinct, yet interrelated components. A basic component is classroom and laboratory experiences. In the classroom, students learn concepts and theories dealing with a broad spectrum of agricultural and agribusiness topics. The classroom is followed by the laboratory mode of instruction where concepts and theories are carried through to their application. Here, the students are taught “hands-on" skills that ensure that the skills learned are practical and usable.

Both classroom and laboratory instruction are put to use in the Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) component of the program. In this approach, students work and learn in a real-life situation where they obtain on-the-job skills. SAEP can vary from the traditional home projects to entrepreneurship or cooperative work experience in production or agribusiness.

The third component, the FFA organization, provides an avenue for developing leadership skills. As an integral, intracurricular component of the agricultural education program, the FFA has numerous systems to deliver instruction in leadership. In addition, FFA provides incentives for improved student performance through its awards program. Teachers of agriculture have always stressed the problem solving and decision making approach to teaching.

Through this approach, students are better equipped to cope with changes that are constantly occurring, not only in agricultural industry but also in life in general. The strength of the program lies in the flexibility and dedication of teachers whose philosophy is, "We don't just teach agriculture, we teach students."

Required Courses

Agricultural Mechanical Systems 

• 02.47100 Basic Agricultural Science
• 01.42100 Agricultural Mechanics Technology I
• 01.42200 Agricultural Mechanics Technology II

Instructor

Greetings Everyone!! My name is Joseph Nesbit, Agriculture Education Teacher and FFA Advisor here at the Greene County College and Career Academy. I was born and raised in Greensboro, Georgia, while also being a 2009 graduate of Greene County High School. Upon leaving Greene County High School, I attended Fort Valley State University (FVSU) in Peach County, Georgia, where I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture Education. During my time at FVSU, I received department honors for Agriculture Education and research presentations. I also have a Masters in Agriculture Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. As well as a Specialist in Agri-Science Education from Auburn University.

I’ve been teaching here at the high school since July 2016, in which I was selected Greene County High School Teacher of the Year, as well as District Teacher of the Year for the 2019-2021 school year. I currently teach 9th-12th grade students in the Plant/Horticultural and Forest/Mechanics pathways. The subjects in this pathway include Basic Agriculture Science, Plant Science/General Horticulture, Forest Science and Agriculture Mechanics 1 & 2.