North East Carolina Preparatory School Inc

TITLE: FARMFORWARD EASTERN NC: A STUDENT-LED PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE LAB PROJECT DIRECTOR: ROBINETTE, AMY HARRIS THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL RURAL WORKFORCE CHALLENGE: STUDENTS IN AN AGRICULTURE-DEPENDENT REGION OFTEN ENCOUNTER AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AS DISCONNECTED COURSES AND ACTIVITIES RATHER THAN AS A COORDINATED PATHWAY TO TECHNICAL CAREERS, COLLEGE DEGREES, AND SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL PRODUCERS. NORTH EAST CAROLINA PREPARATORY SCHOOL WILL SERVE 150 STUDENTS, IN GRADES 9-12 THROUGH A THREE-YEAR, STUDENT-LED PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS CHALLENGE LAB. WORKING IN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS, STUDENTS WILL INVESTIGATE AUTHENTIC CHALLENGES SUBMITTED BY EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES, INCLUDING SOIL HEALTH, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY, CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT, FARM PROFITABILITY, MARKET DEVELOPMENT, AND AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY. THE PROJECT WILL PRODUCE SIX STANDARDS-ALIGNED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY INSTRUCTIONAL MODULES; A PRODUCER CHALLENGE BANK; PORTABLE SOIL, WATER, GREENHOUSE, LIVESTOCK, AND DATA-COLLECTION LEARNING SYSTEMS; STRUCTURED MENTORING, JOB-SHADOWING, COLLEGE EXPOSURE, AND CAREER-PLANNING EXPERIENCES; STUDENT TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIOS; ANNUAL FARMFORWARD INNOVATION SHOWCASES; AND A REPLICABLE IMPLEMENTATION TOOLKIT. STUDENTS WILL DEMONSTRATE MEASURABLE GAINS IN AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY, PROBLEM SOLVING, COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, AND AWARENESS OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE CAREERS.

APPLICATION FOR SMALL, RURAL SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM