New agriculture elective at Selma middle school gives students an early look at careers in ag

SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- Students at Abraham Lincoln Middle School are getting an introduction to one of the Central Valley's most important industries through a new elective course focused on agriculture.

Inside the classroom, eighth-grader Jodie Mendez carefully wrapped green floral tape around a pen as part of one of the class's first hands-on projects.

"Right now, I'm taping the flower to the end of the pen," Mendez said.

The floral pen project is part of the new Intro to Agriculture course, which was added this school year to expose students to the many career pathways within agriculture.

Mendez said his interest in the class began at home.

"My mom was always interested in plants and stuff, and I really kind of got interested in it," he said.

While he already has some experience with plants, Mendez hopes the class will help him better understand how they grow and develop.

"I'm interested in why they grow and what makes it want to grow, you know?" he said.

Teacher Cheyenne Ramos said the course introduces students to a wide range of agriculture-related topics, including agricultural business, natural resources, food science, agricultural mechanics, animal science, agricultural education and plant science.

"We live in the heart of the Central Valley, and many of our students don't even know the crops that grow around them," Ramos said. "It is very important for us to be the leaders and teach them the importance of ag in our area, since it is so important to the world."

Throughout the year, students will complete classroom assignments, outdoor activities and hands-on projects designed to introduce them to different aspects of the industry.

The floral design project serves as an introduction to one of those skills.

"It is very important for our students to start at this age because they get exposure early on, and it can help them when they get to Selma High transition into a different ag pathway or even an ag career in the future," Ramos said.

School officials say the course is designed to help students discover potential interests before entering high school, where they can continue exploring agriculture through more advanced classes and Future Farmers of America programs.

Mendez believes the class provides valuable opportunities for students considering that path.

"I think it's really good if you want to be in ag or FFA because you get an early start on it, and you get to learn more about what it is instead of waiting until high school," he said.

There are currently 85 students enrolled in the new Intro to Agriculture course. Ramos said she hopes participation continues to grow as more students discover the opportunities agriculture can offer.

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