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Seeds planted for bigger, better ag program
By Christina Campbell
The Kaufman school district's Agriculture department is getting a big boost this year, with the addition of two new teachers and a new greenhouse.
"I am really excited," Carey Murphy said.
She said her husband, James Murphy, has been the entire ag department at KHS the last few years, but now she will teach ag fulltime as well.
"I have been asking about this every year," she said. "I told them if they ever needed a second teacher, I was all ready certified."
Carey Murphy is not new to KHS though, she has taught for the last seven years in different programs.
She said she believes the growth of the number of students interested in the program has helped encourage the instructor growth.
"Last year we had last year 119 kids in FFA, there are some more than that, that take classes," Carey Murphy said. "There are 11 Ag classes at the high school and the junior high is getting a teacher."
Carey Murphy said she believes this move by the administration will only increase the number of students interested in FFA and the ag program.
Not all students taking ag classes are in FFA, but Carey Murphy said many choose to join.
"We really try and make things fun," Carey Murphy said. "In the beginning we had to beg the kids to join - we would promise them dinner just to go. Now we have to limit the number of kids that can go to events, because we run out of room on the bus."
As a full-time ag teacher Carey Murphy will teach two new classes, in addition to other ag classes.
"I am teaching three sections of 101 and 102, which is general info about what ag is," she explained.
In those classes, she said students learn basic plant science, basic animal science and basic shop.
"I am going to have a horticulture class, which is a year long class and I have a floral design class," Carey Murphy said.
She said she recently became a certified in art, which will allow students to earn art credit for the floral class.
"This is the first time in recent years we have offered horticulture and floriculture classes," Carey Murphy said.
The classes are part of a four-year program that allows students to focus on plants.
Students interested in the ag program begin by taking the basic classes, Carey Murphy said.
Like classes in every department, ag classes include tests and performance guidelines.
Carey Murphy said a lot of the tests in the ag department are hands-on performance evaluations. "But we also have some tests that are multiple-choice, just like any other class."
She said she hopes that students cannot only learn, but can take away valuable skills to use in life.
"I am working towards getting the kids (in the horticulture class) pesticide handler certified," Carey Murphy said.
She said she also hopes to help some students become certified in floriculture.
"In the floral class, there is a Texas State Floral Association high school floral certification, we are going to try to take that (test) to get some kids certified," Carey Murphy said. "It's a little incentive or upper-hand for the kids to find a summer job or a job when they are in college."
While the ag department has made great strides toward expansion, Carey Murphy said the program does have room for growth.
"We do not have a lot of kids with animal projects, because we do no have the labs and facilities," she said. "But we do have a lot of kids with animals at their homes and we (the ag teachers) go and visit projects everyday."
She explained although they visit multiple projects everyday, they only see each student's project about once a month.
"There are a lot of kids and the district is very spread out," she said.
Anyone interested in the new program is invited to the watermelon welcome on Friday, Aug. 31 at the KHS ag shop. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will include all-you-can-eat watermelon and the opportunity to visit with ag students and teachers.
"I am really excited," Carey Murphy said.
She said her husband, James Murphy, has been the entire ag department at KHS the last few years, but now she will teach ag fulltime as well.
"I have been asking about this every year," she said. "I told them if they ever needed a second teacher, I was all ready certified."
Carey Murphy is not new to KHS though, she has taught for the last seven years in different programs.
She said she believes the growth of the number of students interested in the program has helped encourage the instructor growth.
"Last year we had last year 119 kids in FFA, there are some more than that, that take classes," Carey Murphy said. "There are 11 Ag classes at the high school and the junior high is getting a teacher."
Carey Murphy said she believes this move by the administration will only increase the number of students interested in FFA and the ag program.
Not all students taking ag classes are in FFA, but Carey Murphy said many choose to join.
"We really try and make things fun," Carey Murphy said. "In the beginning we had to beg the kids to join - we would promise them dinner just to go. Now we have to limit the number of kids that can go to events, because we run out of room on the bus."
As a full-time ag teacher Carey Murphy will teach two new classes, in addition to other ag classes.
"I am teaching three sections of 101 and 102, which is general info about what ag is," she explained.
In those classes, she said students learn basic plant science, basic animal science and basic shop.
"I am going to have a horticulture class, which is a year long class and I have a floral design class," Carey Murphy said.
She said she recently became a certified in art, which will allow students to earn art credit for the floral class.
"This is the first time in recent years we have offered horticulture and floriculture classes," Carey Murphy said.
The classes are part of a four-year program that allows students to focus on plants.
Students interested in the ag program begin by taking the basic classes, Carey Murphy said.
Like classes in every department, ag classes include tests and performance guidelines.
Carey Murphy said a lot of the tests in the ag department are hands-on performance evaluations. "But we also have some tests that are multiple-choice, just like any other class."
She said she hopes that students cannot only learn, but can take away valuable skills to use in life.
"I am working towards getting the kids (in the horticulture class) pesticide handler certified," Carey Murphy said.
She said she also hopes to help some students become certified in floriculture.
"In the floral class, there is a Texas State Floral Association high school floral certification, we are going to try to take that (test) to get some kids certified," Carey Murphy said. "It's a little incentive or upper-hand for the kids to find a summer job or a job when they are in college."
While the ag department has made great strides toward expansion, Carey Murphy said the program does have room for growth.
"We do not have a lot of kids with animal projects, because we do no have the labs and facilities," she said. "But we do have a lot of kids with animals at their homes and we (the ag teachers) go and visit projects everyday."
She explained although they visit multiple projects everyday, they only see each student's project about once a month.
"There are a lot of kids and the district is very spread out," she said.
Anyone interested in the new program is invited to the watermelon welcome on Friday, Aug. 31 at the KHS ag shop. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will include all-you-can-eat watermelon and the opportunity to visit with ag students and teachers.
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