94244-2720
Samples of
Skills, Competencies, and
Knowledge
For Proficiency Applications
(Taken from National Proficiency Winners)
NOT TO BE CUT AND PASTED!
11.8.11
Agricultural Communications- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Contributions to Success
Writing
1. In order to write books, I have to know how to write
and formulate realistic plots, characters and settings.
By continuing to exercise my writing skills, I’ve
become more confident in my writing.
Editing
2. I spend more time editing than writing. It’s always
important to go back and revise and edit, otherwise
the story will not turn out as good. This has
sharpened my grammar and spelling skills.
Graphic Design
3. I’ve used an image make before I started creating
book covers, so working with it more and more has
made my covers look more realistic as I get more
experienced.
Website Design
4. Learning how to create my own website was very
helpful. I now know how to use the HTML code,
Pagebuilder and other web tools used in creating my
website.
Marketing
5. Marketing skills are crucial if I want my book to go
anywhere. Through my SAE I was able to learn all
about the importance of marketing my item and
making it look more appealing to customers.
Research
6. The equine character in my story is based on a rare
color gene found in Thoroughbred horses, so I had to
do a considerable amount of research before writing
so the reader would know why the horse is so rare.
Professionalism and Communication Etiquette
7. Working in the communications industry, I am
constantly meeting new people. Practicing proper
etiquette and effective communication skills is
essential in building lasting relationships.
Record Keeping
8. Before I started, I was not a good record keeper.
Now that I have my SAE, I’m forced to keep accurate
records so I know to whom I’m selling my products,
and the profit I made for that sale.
Money Management
9. This has helped me a lot. I could never keep money
in my hands for a while. Now that I have this, I know I
need to save money for future shipments, so I don’t
go out and spend it all.
Maintained accuracy in reporting direct quotes
10. The most important thing I have learned in my SAE
is not to change what people say. Rewording things
can change the meaning of a quote completely.
Burned photos onto a CD
11. Putting all of the FFA photos on a CD was a major
help. I was able to take photos from my home
computer to a school computer so that I could insert
them into Chapter newsletters.
*Additional Skills: Constructing Ag-related
website, Conducting Proper Interviews,
Creating Chapter Newsletter
Agricultural Communications- Placement
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Gathering Agricultural Stories
Contributions to Success
1. Having up-to-date information with specific details from a
reliable source is a key element when broadcasting farm news.
Many agriculturalists want to hear information that is important
during the farming season; thus, many of the topics I choose go
along with local events that are taking place. Normally, these
events inform farmers about how to be more efficient. To make
sure I have reliable sources with the best information for my
listeners, I look through newspapers, magazines, news
releases and letters. The Morning Farm News Broadcaster and
I have developed a list of internet cites that contain related
information. Some of these sites include: Ohio Farm Bureau
Federation, United States Department of Agriculture, and the
National FFA Foundation. Research can be lonely because I
have to read everything, but it’s always comforting knowing I’m
doing my best to bring my listeners recent information.
Writing Agricultural Stories
2. To make sure that I have understandable stories, I follow a
certain process. Before I begin writing my story, I gather all of
my researched stories. I rank the research in priority ranking,
with the most important on the top. When ranking the stories, I
take conventions, reservation deadlines for activities, and the
agricultural season into consideration. Once I have determined
what stories people would appreciate, I take my research to the
computer and open Microsoft Word. The first item I type is the
date the story will be read in Times New Roman at fourteen
point font. I then type the remaining story at sixteen point font. I
take the information I have researched and within the first
paragraph I announce general details about the agricultural
topic I am discussing. I then continue to branch off from that
information by typing more specific information. The story is
normally two minutes in length.
Operation of the Production Room and Studio
Room Boards
3.
Research of Local Agricultural Activities
4. One division of my broadcast is local event. Many of my
listeners belong to important organizations like 4-H, FFA, and
Farm Bureau. To make sure that the listeners know when local
farm events are taking place, I research through many sources
and record the dates, times, and any important information. To
make sure that I am doing this in an organized manner, I
developed a farm calendar folder. Within the farm calendar
folder is different month categories, and the events are placed
The Production Room contains the board that is mainly used
for pre-recording materials. The board contains sliding devices
used for different purposes, and by each device is a number
scale, which controls the volume of my voice. There are four
sliding devices that I use for my broadcasting purposes. These
include the controls of the microphone, phone connections,
computer us, and headphone levels. When pre-recording, I
have to make sure that the speakers are turned off. If they are
not, Adobe Audition will pick up my voice and the speaker
voice, which makes my voice sound hollow. The Studio Room
is used for on-air broadcasting. I make sure the microphone
button titled “program” and my head phone button titled “audio”
is pushed in. “Program” lets me go over air. To stop the radio
programming, I change a computer button from “auto off” to
“auto on”.
under the month that the event is taking place. There is a
document in Microsoft Word that is updated with the farm
calendar not only gives listeners times and dates, but it also
keeps me updated on who I need to call for an interview. By
having an interviewee from the farm calendar, the story
becomes that more helpful to the listeners.
Edit, Broadcast, and Place Music Under Local
FFA Happenings
5. FFA Happenings is a program that focuses on two different
chapters and their activities. I am part of the Public Relations
Committee foe the Versailles FFA Chapter, and I bring the
microphone and recorder to school for my committee so that
we can broadcast the report. Greenville FFA reports to the
station to broadcast, and I download Versailles FFA’s
broadcast at the station. Then I edit the mistakes for both
chapters to that the broadcasts flow better. I place music beds
under the audio for an introduction and a conclusion sound.
The music has to be place at just the right volume, or listeners
will not be able to hear the beginning and ending of the
broadcast. I have to adjust the volume according to the level of
the broadcasters. Once the broadcasts are prefect, I import
both of them into the Production Software under AUD1100 and
AUD1101.
Weather, Commercials, and Public Service
Announcements
6. Another division of my job is recording the overnight weather,
agricultural public service announcements, and agricultural
commercials. The overnight weather plays from 12:00 am until
5:59 am. Our weather is focused on Greenville’s predicted
weather found on the Weather Channel website. I get
predictions for the next four days, and then I record my audio.
After recording, I hit a button that takes me to a multi-track
system. In one track, I insert my audio. In another track, I insert
the weather bed music, I adjust the levels of the weather bed
music to my voice, and this allows for people to hear the bed
and my voice at a nice listening level. I’m also given agricultural
public service announcements from the Farm Service Agency
and Versailles FFA, and I’m given commercials for The Rodeo
Shop. After recording these announcements and commercials,
I add music to the audio.
*Additional Skills: Writing Press Releases,
Conducting Interviews, Assembling a Periodic
Newsletter
Agricultural Education- Placement
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Oral and Written Communication
Contributions to Success
1. I am able to communicate with a variety of audiences whether it
is 4 year-olds or adults. I have learned how to communicate
with all ages, which helps to get my educational message
across to a variety of the visitors who come to the zoo. I am not
limited to just children, teens or adults. I am now ever capable
of communicating with children and adults at the same time I
have found a balance that works for both.
Leader Training
2. In leader training I have learned how to train new Zoo Teens
and how to properly lead a team to a successful goal. I have
been privileged in having “Shadows” who follow me for a shift
learning how they can work on their public speaking skills and
improve their communication skills. I also help teach the
trainees what important facts need to be communicated to the
general public about the zoo animals and the family farm
exhibit. Animal welfare issues are discussed as well as
environment, nutrition, and diseases.
Teaching, reviewing, and demonstrating
parliamentary procedure
3. Another skill I have developed is the ability to teach and
demonstrate parliamentary procedure to middle school FFA
members interested in the Parliamentary Procedure Junior
CDE contest. After constructing a parliamentary procedure
resource notebook for each team member, I met with them a
couple of times a week to teach and review the various motions
and abilities associated with parliamentary procedure. Once the
students became familiar with these motions, we practiced
debating and handling each type of motion. During these
demonstrations, I would assist the students by evaluating their
performance and offering suggestions for improvement.
Preparing Agricultural Lesson Plans
4. In order to become a successful agricultural education
instructor I must be able to develop proper lesson plans that
support student learning. My agricultural education instructor
has helped me to become more proficient in this task. I begin
by determining what lesson I want to teach. I am aware of what
grade level I am developing the lesson plan for and the time I
will have to teach the lesson. Once this has been established I
develop clear and specific objectives. These objectives are
measurable so that I can tell if these objectives were met or
not.
Teamwork
5. Throughout my FFA career I have had many opportunities to
develop the skill of teamwork. My first time working with other
individuals was through the PALS program. As a team we had
to work together and create a presentation on agriculture. I also
gained valuable teamwork skills through the CDEs that I
participated in. I had the opportunity to work hard with the
Nursery Landscape team my sophomore year and the
Floriculture team my junior year as we were determined to win
the state contest as a team. I will need teamwork because I
will have to work with other teachers and advisors, but most
importantly I will have to teach team work and setting goals to
the students.
Organizing
*Additional Skills: Drafting agricultural public
service announcements, Producing resources
for Agricultural Education teachers, Organizing
formal presentations
6. As a senior FFA member I felt that it was important to provide
young members with the skills necessary to become successful
in the FFA and agricultural education. Being that I had won the
state Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency Award, I
conducted a workshop to educate students on the application
process. I began by providing students with a list and
description of the 47 proficiency award areas. After students
had selected an area that fit their program, we reviewed the
skills and activities that they performed. Photography was a
section of the workshop that students particularly enjoyed.
Using my chapter’s digital camera, I showed students the
correct way to take pictures and transfer them to the computer.
Using Microsoft Power Point and a projector, I went through
each page of the application. I concluded the workshop by
providing students with a CD containing applications.
Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication- Placement
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Arc Welding
Contributions to Success
1. I learned to ARC weld when I was nine years old. It was the first
welding that my father taught me. After completing welding
classes in the Ag program I am very proficient in my Arc
welding skills. I has been the welding skill that I bas all my other
welds against. I understand the machine setup, Rate of Travel,
Arc Length, Lead Angle, and Position angles have to be
followed in all the welding that I do. I never forget the basics
and this increased my efficiency in completing jobs. I strive to
complete welds that will not need to be grinded down, and that
are structurally strong.
Safety Practices
2. Safety is the first and foremost priority at JC Dairy Construction.
In the shop and in the work truck there are First Aid Kits. Also,
there are emergency phone numbers posted in highly visible
locations. All employees are required to attend the bi-weekly
safety meeting. This is where we are updated on new issues or
practices. Also, if there were any situations that came about
that need attention to prevent them from happening again.
Those preventive measures are explained to us at that time.
We have an outstanding safety record at JC Dairy Construction
with only small cuts and scrapes. Safety glasses and ear plugs
are the first things that I grab before I go to work and the rest of
the safety practices are just habit.
Material Preparation
3. To have businesses run at the highest efficiency possible a lot
of things come into play. With the dairy construction business
material preparation is one of the biggest. When material is not
prepped correctly it could not only slow down the job or
compromise the correctness. I could end up costing more to
replace the improperly prepped material. All of this combined
could put the project behind schedule in addition to being over
budget. A good tape and the “Measure twice and cut once”
theory are words to live by. I use several different tools to cut
and prep material to the required 1/16’’ or less requirement.
Record keeping
4. The ability to keep and maintain accurate records is very
important in any business. At first when I started I was in
charge of keeping track of how much was spent on servicing
equipment in the shop. Now I am responsible for pricing out
materials for jobs, keeping track of man hours, and sending out
the final billing. The largest project that I am on currently is the
enclosed utility trailer that I am constructing for the business. At
this stage of the project all hours and expenditures have been
updated every two to three days and when material statements
are received they are checked for accuracy.
Customer Relations
5. Good communication with my customers is essential for the
success of any business. Communicating with the customer
allows me to assure them that I will meet their needs and that
their satisfaction is my number one priority. After talking to the
customer I will draw out what we have discussed and give them
a detailed work order that include materials to be used and an
estimate. This way if there are any questions they can be
answered before the project starts. This ensures that there will
be no misunderstandings once the project has been started. A
good report with your customers goes a long ways. My father
believes that can be one of the best advertising methods out
there.
Developing time management skills
*Additional Skills: Rebuilding Hydraulic
Cylinders, Plasma Cutting, Stainless Steel
welding, Metal Working Skills, Heavy
Machinery Operation
6. Good time management skills are crucial in effectively
managing any business. When crops are ready from harvest
the producer cannot afford to be waiting for machines to be
produced. Strict deadlines can make your job stressful. The
cure to a stress free working environment is better time
management practices. Having strong time management skills
will not only decrease stress but reduce the occurrence of
errors in production. Learning how to effectively manage time
will assist in creating a pleasant working atmosphere which will
increase the level production.
Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Developing Time Management Skills
Contributions to Success
1. Learning to effectively manage your time is crucial in the
success of any business. When the tractors are in the shop
then they are not out making money for the farmer! By
managing my time and repair orders, I can minimize the
amount of time a tractor is in the shop. I can maximize its ability
to make a profit. Efficiency is a great factor. Being well
organized aids time management by being able to find tools
without searching around. Time management allows you to
complete the task at hand in a relaxing manner that reduces
stress, decreases the incidence of error, and creates a pleasant
work atmosphere enjoyed by everyone from employer to
employee to customer.
Maintenance of all types of power units
2. The maintenance and repair of power units is one of the skills I
am most proud of. A diesel tractor has many different properties
than a gas engine found in most vehicles. Many of the skills I
have learned on tractor maintenance also apply to the diesel
and propane irrigation motors. I work on all models such as
John Deere, International, Allis Chalmers, and Ford. Working
on tractors has taught me that even small details are important
on large machines. Valve clearance and even a clean air filter
can make a huge difference in the machine’s performance. A
clogged air filter can result in major problems such as not letting
enough air into the combustion chamber which causes the
engine to burn more fuel which results in overheating and a
very costly repair.
Understanding New Technologies
3. Understanding and learning about the new technology is a very
important skill in the irrigation industry. Farmers are looking for
new ways to manage water more efficiently and to maximize
crop production at the least cost possible. This is where I have
to be trained to install the new CAM panels. The CAM panels
are a very high tech operating system for the sprinklers. The
panel allows the farmer to run the sprinkler from a cellular
phone or computer. It also allows the farmer to know the exact
degree the sprinkler is at so he or she can shut it down at the
accurate time without being at the field. The CAM panel also
allows the farmer to apple water, fertilizers and crop protection
chemicals more efficiently. Another new technology I was
educated in was poly drops and nozzles.
Leadership
4. Leadership is an important skill in the work place. We are all
leaders even if we don’t want to. In the work place there are
always people watching you whether it is your boss making
sure you are doing your job or a new employee trying to learn
how the business operates. Showing good leadership skills
helps the new people and even the veterans of the business
learn new things. Leadership is shown everywhere, your home,
community, work place, school and many other places. FFA
has contributed to my leadership skills in a great way.
Record Keeping
5. Through m y Agriculture Education classes I have learned the
value of good records. Whether I am working on repairing a
trailed or cutting out parts for home breweries, I have found that
all my jobs have one thing in common; record keeping. Every
day, when I am working at McGregor’s I have to complete my
timesheet on how many hours I spent on each job or task. This
information is needed so they will know how much to bill a
customer for work on their order or for the parts. This gives the
shop manager an idea of how long specific projects take and if
the shop is running efficiently, I am also required to document
material used when working on the customer’s order. This
helps us better understand the agriculture design and
fabrication business in general, and introduces me to flat rates,
service pricing guides, set-up times, and work orders. I also
keep record on the number of orders completed during a
particular time of the year.
Safety, and Safety Information
*Additional Skills: Understanding and repairing
Fuel Systems, Repairing Hydraulic Systems
6. Whether I am working on the breweries, citrus trailers or most
recently calf feeders Safety is my major priority. McGregor’s
has monthly safety meeting to ensure safety requirements are
being followed. I completed an OSHA Safety Course during the
summer of my junior year at the local Junior College. Working
with welding and cutting equipment there is a greater potential
for accidents because of the type of equipment and the
materials used. When I work on a trailer or any welding project,
I make sure my jack stand, clamps, straps and safety guards
are in place. I always wear safety glasses when operating highspeed equipment. Safety glasses, and appropriate safety gear
is used at all times at McGregor’s, so to prevent the possibility
of burns or cuts. Possessing a constant awareness of possible
hazards promotes a safer work environment.
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Mechanical Skills
Contributions to Success
1. Throughout restoring my tractors I now understand the
processes of: rebuilding an engine and carburetor, replacing
bearings and seals, and diagnosing a problem.
Sandblasting and Paint Preparation
2. I learned the proper way to sandblast, do body work, prepare
pieces for paint. By understanding this, my paint jobs are of a
higher quality. Prior to starting this project my experience in this
area was very limited.
Mechanical Inspection
3. I inspected the tractors for problems to save time and reduce
mechanical malfunction. From this inspection, I can make a
parts estimate of the project cost
Welding and Part Fabrication
4. When working on machinery that is over 50 years old the odds
of a piece breaking increases. I have welded and brazed cast
iron and steel tractor parts. I have also fabricated and built
missing parts.
Safety
5. Safety is critical! I took extra precautions to insure that I was
working in a safer environment. I wore proper protective
equipment such as safety glasses, a respirator, long sleeves
and welding hood.
Record Keeping
6. I kept detailed records of when each task was completed. By
the end of the project, I would look back and see what was
done on what day. I made an itemized parts list of every part
purchased.
Time Management
7. In order to complete my tractor efficiently, I had to manage my
time wisely. I made sure I had parts before I needed them. I set
deadlines for parts I wanted to have assembled by when.
Painting
8. Painting was the most difficult skills for me to master. This
made getting the “perfect” paint job difficult to achieve. I
realized that I could get a better paint job by applying several
light coats vs. one heavy coat.
Customer Relations
9. I improved customer relations by practicing for interviews for
contest I participated in. I also learned how to speak to potential
suppliers when I was looking at purchasing various tractor
parts.
I learned how to work on voltage regulators
10. This skill will allow me to able to get out of sticky situation if the
battery on my tractor will not charge and my tractor won’t start.
This was I can at least make a temporary fix.
*Additional Skills: Motor Assembly and Disassembly, Plasma Cutter Use, Tractor
Maintenance, Use of Various Welding
Techniques
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Developing Time Management Skills
Contributions to Success
1. Learning to effectively manage your time is crucial in the
success of any business. When the tractors are in the shop
then they are not out making money for the farmer. By
managing my time and repair orders, I can minimize the
amount of time a tractor is in the shop. I can maximize its ability
to make a profit. Efficiency is a great factor. Being well
organized aids time management by being able to find tools
without searching around. Time management allows you to
complete the task at hand in a relaxing manner that reduces
stress, decreases the incidence of error, and creates a pleasant
work atmosphere enjoyed by everyone from employer to
employee to customer.
Understanding and repairing Fuel Systems
2. There are many parts of a fuel system from the injection pump
to fuel injectors. My work in fuel system experience ranges from
replacing the fuel filter or a clogged line to replacing injectors
and injection pump. Not only do you need fuel but you need the
correct fuel pressure to ensure the engine is at peak
performance. The importance of timing the injection pump or
lubricating the o-ring when installing fuel lines doesn’t seem
major, but things like this can affect the outcome of the job.
Different types of welding
3. Over the past three years I have learned many different ways to
weld. I can weld with and arc, mig and tig welder. Welding is
very important because I do some welding at work on large
equipment, and at home. On larger things I like to use an arc
welder because I can turn the heat up higher and get more
penetration. I recommend a 7018 Exceliper electrode fore cast
steel, in the field a 6011 may be needed because of impurities
in the field setting. On smaller things like welding pipe or thin
metal I like to use the mig welder because the heat can be
turned down, the mig considerable more effective for sheet
metal as well. The mig is not always the best choice in a field
setting because wind may blow the shielding gas away. I have
used an aluminum gun on a mig welder to weld angle iron, to
weld aluminum you must us argon gas. I have also used the tig
welder to weld thinner aluminum. My aluminum welding skill
may help me in the future as I get more advanced.
Engine, Transmission, and Drive Train
Maintenance
4. Over the years I have attained the knowledge to properly
maintain diesel and gasoline engines, transmissions, and drive
trains. This includes checking for leaks, noises, power loss, or
any other malfunctions that may occur. In maintaining these
features there has to be knowledge of every working
component in each of these items. This takes a lot of time going
into each of the several items listed above to be able to
understand exactly how they operate and knowing how to
repair them.
Maintenance of Various Power Units
5. The maintenance and repair of power units is one of the skills I
am most proud of. A diesel tractor has many different properties
than a gas engine found in most vehicles. Many of the skills I
have learned on tractor maintenance also apply to the diesel
and propane irrigation motors. I work on all models such as
John Deere, International, Allis Chalmers, and Ford. Working
on tractors has taught me that even small details are important
on large machines. Valve clearance and even a clean air filter
can make a huge difference in the machine’s performance. A
clogged air filter can result in major problems such as not letting
enough air into the combustion chamber which causes the
engine to burn more fuel which results in overheating and a
very costly repair.
Understanding and Repairing Electrical
Systems
*Additional Skills: Engine Maintenance, Various
Types of Welding(Arc, mig, tig), Combine
Maintenance, Tractor Maintenance
6. I work on many different types of electrical systems. The
electrical systems on equipment are often very complex and
have lots of components. The repairs done to electrical
problems are caused by opens, shorts, resistance, and ground
problems. Most problems can be over looked and over thought.
I have learned that sometimes the best way to find a problem is
to take a step back and rethink simple things. This past year in
college I took an electrical course in the CAT program that I am
in at Reedley College. The course has taught me the basics of
electrical systems. The skills that I have learned in my electrical
course have allowed me to take my job in the repair of the
electrical systems to the next level. By taking the electrical
systems course I was able to become certified in electrical
systems.
Agricultural Processing- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
I learned how to make a variety of cheeses
Contributions to success
1. This will help me in getting my cheese maker's license. This will
also help me get a pasteurization license, which is required to
pasteurize milk.
I learned how to service milk and tractor trucks.
2. This will help me further my education in MSTC's Diesel and
Heavy Equipment program next year.
I learned how to test the pH level in the milk.
3. Testing pH is important to make sure the bacteria level remains
low.
I learned how to do field work and sanitize
equipment after daily use.
4. This keeps things sanitary, which are a necessity to meet
I learned how to keep records of dairy milk
intake at the plant
5. USDA, cheese processing requirements.
I learned how to fill out paper work for cheese
orders.
6. This helps by giving me experience I need when I get my CDL
and drive milk truck. Also this is necessary to accurately pay
producers.
I learned how to use computerized double-o's
(mixing vats).
7. This helps keep things organized and keeps track of sales.
I learned how to test milk quality for Grade A.
8. Mixing the proper amounts of milk, rennet, and colors is vital to
making quality cheese.
I learned how to package cheese properly.
9. This is a requirement for the plant to be able transport milk, and
use the milk to make cheese.
I participated in FFA Ag Mechanics contests.
10. This protects cheese from getting moldy and leaking. Keeps
cheese fresh.
*Additional Skills: Cheese Packaging, Bottling
Honey, Beeswax, Milking
Agricultural Processing- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Food Safety
Contributions to success
1. Every processing plant must adhere to specific guidelines when
food safety is concerned. Before opening every day, a USDA
meat inspector must examine all equipment, stations, floors,
freezers, and coolers, and tools to make sure them meet the
standard qualifications. It is my job to clean the equipment,
tables floors, and utensils properly every evening and
periodically throughout the day. We must also keep our coolers
at a constant forty degrees Fahrenheit to prevent spoilage and
microbial growth.
Wrapping and labeling Meat Product
2. At Big Country, I am responsible for wrapping and labeling
meat in white butcher paper and by vacuum sealing it.
Wrapping and labeling correctly is very important in the meat
processing industry. All meat products must be wrapped
properly to ensure freshness. Proper labeling is also an
important factor in the meat packing industry. At Big Country,
we butcher animals for individuals and we also sell meat from
the counter, so labels must consist of the correct date, weight,
species, and cut of meat. To complete this task correctly takes
a great amount of patience and education. A person must be
able to tell the difference between species and know the retail
and primal cuts that come from what species. I also teach new
employees how to perform this job.
Identifying retail and wholesale cuts of meat
3. Being able to fill a customer’s order correctly is crucial in the
meat processing business, so learning all of the wholesale and
tail cuts are important. There are eight wholesale and sixty-five
retail cuts of beef, six wholesale and forty-four retail cuts of
pork, and five wholesale and twenty-five retail cuts of lamb.
Knowing all of my cuts before I started working at Big Country
enabled me to become a fast and efficient meat cutter. My boss
knows that I know the cuts, and he doesn’t have to worry about
me making an error.
Skinning
4. Before I skin animals, I hang them by their hind legs,
exsanguinate, and eviscerate them. I lay the heart and liver on
the examination table for the USDA inspector to observe. Then,
I carefully remove the hide by stating at the hind legs and
working towards the head. When I get to the head I remove it,
and cut it open so the USDA inspector can inspect the brains
and glands. After skinning cattle, pigs, and deer, we stack the
skins in pits where they are individually salted to remove the
moisture and to prevent insect infestation. They are kept in the
pits until we fill them up. Then, we sell the hides to Rawhide
Export which is a company from Texas.
Cleaning and Sanitation
5. Keeping the packing house sanitized is top priority at Big
Country Meat Market. We have to follow strict USDA guidelines
when cleaning equipment. We use a heated, Hotsy power
washer to remove any blood or debris from the walls, floors,
stables, and equipment. Prior to washing, we soak everything
with bleach and soap to kill bacteria. We clean the facilities
periodically throughout the day, and we clean it at the end of
the day. A USDA inspector inspects the entire facility each
morning before we can open the doors for business. If he finds
a problem, we must correct it. It is also my job to train new
employees hot the sanitation procedure works, because it takes
several people to achieve this goal every day.
Smoking Meats
*Additional Skills: Cutting Specialized Meat
Cuts, Operating a Meat Slicer
6. At Big Country Meat Market we not only process meat into
fresh cuts, we also have a 4’X6’ smoker that we smoke meat
and bones in. We sell the bones to dog lovers who enjoy giving
their pets a hickory smoked treat. We sell large bones for $3
each. This gives us a way to make a profit while minimizing
waste. We also smoke hams, turkeys, bacon, ribs, jerky, brats,
summer sausage, pork loins, ham hocks, and briskets. Some of
these items we smoke upon customers’ requests, and some we
sell over the counter. We especially sell a large quantity of
smoked turkeys and hams during the holiday seasons. Our
smoker uses electricity to generate heat, and we use hickory
wood chips to add smoke to the heat. We like this smoker,
because we can control the amount of smoke that we put into
the meat. Meat that is smoked on smokers that are heated with
wood alone sometimes gets the meat over smoked which
leaves a bitter taste.
Agricultural Sales—Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Working with People-Public Relations
Contributions to Success
1. Working with the public is an important Skill in any sales
business. I have developed the ability to properly deal with any
type of customer
Seed Inventory Management
2. I have developed the ability to predict what to preorder for the
next year’s sales, which generates more profit. I keep popular
hybrids on hand to serve customers needs quickly.
Accounting/ record keeping
3. Keeping good records helps me in several ways by predicting
cash flows, inventory purchases, and other outlays. I balance
this with income to keep a consistent cash flow.
Marketing a seed product
4. By learning what hybrids do well in this area and what hybrids
work well in specialty situations, combined with test plot results
I can confidently sell my product.
Marketing a radio or other technology product
to meet customer needs / expectations.
5. After understanding a customer needs I can then match them
up with the proper type of radio system (ex. VHF, UHF
Repeater, UHF trucking, 800 MHz, etc.) to produce the
operating range they desire.
Properly storing & delivering seed.
6. Properly storing and organizing my seed inventory in a clean
and rodent-free environment minimizes my losses due to
storage and make deliveries more efficient.
Managing a test plot / Past radio system
performance.
7. Compiling data from my test plots throughout the area and
information regarding past radio system performance allows me
to provide myself with extremely valuable marketing data
Attending meetings/ keep educated on the
seed, chemical and wireless communications
industries.
8. Staying educated on current topics provides me the information
that I need to help my customers make the right seed,
chemical, and technology decisions for their business.
Reading electrical diagrams.
9. Being able to read electrical diagrams allows me to gain a full
understanding of how a piece of equipment works, how to
repair it, and how to interface it with other devices.
Understanding plant processes/ agronomy.
10. The ability to understand plant processes is essential. I am
more able to communicate with my agronomist and customers
about problems and seed production.
*Additional Skills: Selling at a Farmer’s Market,
Fabricating Marketing Strategies, Delivering
Products to Customers
Agricultural Sales—Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Communication Skills
Contributions to Success
1. The skill that I have probably had to work the hardest on since
starting my Placement SAE is communication. When I began in
Agriculture Education and selected my Ag. Sales SAE, I was 15
and somewhat shy when dealing with customers. As I continued to
work at Cherokee Feed, I became more familiar with the products
and their respective uses. My knowledge has helped me gain the
confidence I needed to become more comfortable in talking with
customers. Successful communication also involves actively
listening to customer’s needs to help in understanding their specific
wishes. Whether I am assisting with fencing, fertilizer, or the
selection of feed or various types of hay, I have to convey
produces characteristics to the customers to help with their
decisions. The communication skills I have gained in my
Placement SAE will be beneficial in my future career.
Customer Service
2. In my Ag. Sales Placement SAE at Cherokee Feed and Seed,
customer service has been a necessary skill requirement for
successful employment. To stay in business and be competitive
with national chain stores, Cherokee Feed keeps their customers
coming back by good products and high quality customer service.
Greeting the customer as they enter the store and assisting them
with selections of specialized products earns their appreciation. In
many cases I and other employees have to help the customers
determine what products are best suited to their unique situation.
Another facet of business that requires direct customer contact is
during the delivery of hay and other products. Placing the products
correctly upon delivery helps to satisfy customer and helps
assumer repeat purchases for the business.
Marketing
3. Marketing our products is an important feature of my job. I am
responsible with developing new methods of informing customers
about the products we offer and implementing that marketing plan
for our business. I have been able to establish new business
ventures with potential customers by doing good market research
and establishing a need for our product in the market place.
Through our displays and customer interactions at commodity
shows, I have been able to establish a reputation and name for our
product which has been a large factor in our company continuing to
be profitable. Through my research I found that we needed to get
out name out to the public more and that is why we started
attending these shows. Also, by continually surveying our
customers and vendors, I have been able to make sure that I keep
up with their needs for our products.
Research
4. There are two ways that I use research skills in my job. First, I
research new products offered by HARSH and our competitors,
and I research customer databases so that I can continue to
expand our market. It is important for me to be knowledgeable
about the equipment offered by HARSH because I want to provide
my customers with the most advanced and functional products to
meet their needs. I also must continually research the competitor
products so that I am aware on how I can use the features and
benefits of our products to more accurately meet our customer’s
needs. When researching for customers, I use databases that I
have made as well as information from equipment companies to
help establish or reestablish business for our company. This type
of research has helped to increase customer traffic to our product.
Product displays
*Additional Skills: Record Keeping, Targeting
Specific Customers in Relation to the Product,
Innovating to Compete with Other Businesses
5. To make an impact when customers come to our store or when
potential customers visit our display booth at commodity shows, I
have made it an emphasis to provide vibrant and attractive product
displays. I have spent a lot of time developing my displays so that
they not only attract attention, they also provide customers with the
information that they need to make a sound business decision.
With the assistance of my mother, we make all of the displays for
our business. We change these displays as new and updated
equipment comes out and as we travel to different shows across
the southeast. We try to make our show displays area appropriate
by changing the equipment we feature to the equipment that is
more frequently purchased in that demographic. By making
displays important we look more professional and establish
customer confidence in our product.
Agricultural Services- Entrepreneurship
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Water dousing
Contributions to Success
1. Selecting a forked Willow or Cottonwood tree limb allows me to
find water. I place the forked limb in my hands and point the
sticks upward; as I cross underground water streams the limb
will twist upwards.
Reading soil formations
2. Learning the differences of soil formations, topsoil sand vs.
water sand, allows me to gauge the proper depth of my well
and what types of bits must be used to drill through different
soil formations.
Keeping drilled water hope open
3. Once the well is drilled and the drill pipe is removed, the hole
must remain completely full of water to ensure the hole stays
open and prevents the walls from caving in before placing the
casing in the well.
Setting casing at proper formation and depth
4. One must set the perforation at a depth of 20 ft in permeable
soil (i.e. Red bed) that doesn’t contain fine sand. This prevents
the well from pumping sand in the water.
Proper care and maintenance of drilling
equipment
5. With numerous moving parts that must be greased and oil
frequently, maintenance is crucial to keep the rig functioning
properly and safely. Proper maintenance keeps repair costs to
a minimal.
Gravel Packing
6. The gravel must be placed around the casing in the well. One
must place the gravel in the well slow enough as to not push
the water down forcing the casing up and out of the hole.
Developing the well
7. Baling a well is the proper technique to clean the gravel pack
(filter system) of the sand and other particles. This generally
takes 2 hours of continuous plunging and purging of the well.
Public Relations
8. Advertising and working with clients is vital to the growth and
success of our water well business. Meeting customer needs
and wants along with dealing with any adversities takes
patience.
Financial Planning
9. Knowing costs of producing a working well, costs of
maintaining equipment and other hidden costs must be planned
for and adjusted for each job I do. Having a profitable business
is vital to continued success.
Safety Precautions
10. Using hard hats, eye protection, proper tools, setting the rig on
solid ground and watching for others are just a few safety
precautions that must be taken on each and every well drilled.
Additional Skills: Baling Alfalfa, Cornstalks and
Hay
Agricultural Services- Placement
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Synchronization of Beef Cattle, Elk, and Deer
Contributions to Success
1. Synchronization is used to bring the female animals into heat at
the same time. We use CIDR’s (Controlled Intervaginal Drug
Release) and PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum) to help bring the
animals in heat. The CIDR’s are coated in a drug which stops
the reproductive system; they are inserted intervaginally into
the female. They are left in for about ten days; this allows the
drug to get into the females system. When the CIDR is
removed we will administrate a shot of PMSG, which will bring
the females back into heat. We use different synchronization
programs for different species because their reproductive
systems vary from species to species. Many ranch operations
will choose to synchronize their animals so they can control the
calving season, and to make the A.I process easier.
Artificial Insemination(A.I) of Beef Cattle, Elk,
and Deer
2. Artificial Insemination process takes place approximately 60
hours after the CIDR’s have been removed. When we A.I. we
use frozen or fresh semen that the rancher has purchased. We
will place the semen into the uterus of the cow, but to do so we
have to go into the female rectally and find the cervix. When
the cervix is found then we thread the A.I gun, which holds the
semen, through the cervix into the uterus where the semen is
placed. A.I. enables owners of ranches to breed outstanding
bulls without major capital investments of owning the bull. It
allows the owners to choose what traits they want benefit their
herd. Artificial insemination allows the ranchers more flexibility
of site selection then the natural mating process.
Semen Collection of Elk, and Deer
3. Semen is usually collected from each male twice in one day,
which will give an average of three hundred straws of semen.
In order to collect the semen we place and electric prop rectally
into the male elk or deer. Someone will run the probe and two
people will work underneath the animal to catch the semen in
the glassware. We have to be careful not to allow any dirt into
the semen. After, the semen is collected we process the semen
which the end result will be either frozen or fresh. The semen
has to be handled with care so we do not risk losing any of it. If
any is lost, it will be a couple of days before we can collect
those bulls again, causing everyone to be behind schedule.
When bulls are collected their semen can be extended into
300-500 straws, this allows us to A.I. more cows to one bull.
The bulls can only breed up to 100 cows if they do it naturally.
Semen collection allows ranchers to have more semen from
one bull so then can A.I. more cows.
Semen Analysis of Elk and Deer
4. During the artificial insemination, and the semen processing we
have to analyze the semen to verify that is still useable. During
the processing the semen is analyzed to be sure if it is the best
quality. This is because when it is frozen and then it is thawed it
only contains about 50% mobility. The semen is looked at for
mobility before and after it is frozen to make sure if it the best
quality. It is also counted to see how many of the sperm were
put into each straw, in a frozen straw of semen there are 30-50
million sperm, in a fresh straw of semen there are between 2-3
million sperm. The difference is the fresh doesn’t go through so
many climate changes so they won’t die of shock as easily. The
other time the semen is analyzed is before insemination, to
make sure it is still the best of quality.
Safety
5. Safety is one of the most important things to practice when
working with large animals. The elk have to be treated carefully
because when they get nervous they will start doing anything to
protect themselves. When working the elk the barn has to be
quiet and dimly lit, so they will stay calm and they will be easier
to work with, If the elk are rushed and there is a lot of yelling
and noise, then they will be harder to move and more apt to
strike or kick. The deer just have to be worked slowly if they are
rushed then they become fighty and can hurt themselves more
than anyone else. These animals all have to be worked
differently. The main factor of safety is knowing how to work
each species so one can be careful, and hopefully will prevent
any injury to anyone or any animal.
Sales/Marketing of Elk and Deer
6. The convention booth will have pictures and information on the
herd sires, to which we have access too. To draw attention to
the booth a large collection of hard antler (antler after the velvet
has shed) is displayed. There are brochures set out with
descriptions of each bull and the price lists. Our primary
method of prospective client contact is the use of e-mails and
phone calls. Our largest clients receive a complete annual sire
catalog. Our new clients are kept up to date with current
pictures and price lists via e-mail. We found this to be more
cost effective because of the availability of bulls and semen
prices are constantly changing. An additional service that we
offer is hard consulting for sire selection and herd
management.
*Additional Skills: Transporting Various Farm
Equipment, Tractor and Combine Operations
Beef Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Record Keeping
Contributions to Success
1. Monitoring cash flow and keeping detailed income and expense
records has allowed me to make better management decisions
in my operation.
Animal Health
2. Cattle are vaccinated, de-wormed, and implanted upon
purchase. These practices have reduced sickness and
increased rate of gain.
Animal Nutrition
3. A strong nutritional program has aided in the growth and rate of
gain of cattle. Cattle with proper nutrition have maintained
better health and been more profitable.
Marketing
4. Forward contracting cattle has offered price protection against
falling market prices. The diversity in my marketing has
provided many options that have offered profit potential.
Facility Management
5. Keeping cattle handling facilities in good working condition has
prevented injury and reduced stress on animals as well as
myself and others while operating the facilities.
Castration
6. Castrating bull calves has increased the rate of gain of the calf.
Castrating at a young age decreases the stress to the animal
thus allowing for faster recovery and weight gain.
Preconditioning
7. A good preconditioning program for stocker cattle has been
essential to get cattle off to a good start from the beginning.
Cattle that have been preconditioned have remarkably better
returns.
Animal Identification
8. Branding has been used for her identification and numbered
ear tags are used to identify individual animals to aid in keeping
accurate health records.
Handling and Transportation
9. Proper handling and transportation of animals minimized stress
and increases heard health which in turn helps sustain a
positive rate of gain.
Financial Credit
10. Financial credit has been necessary to purchase cattle. Making
timely loan payment has increased my credit capacity which
has allowed me to increase the scope of my program.
*Additional Skills: Preparing Cattle for Cattle
Shows, Advertising Techniques, Breeding
Cows, Sire and Bull Selection for Breeding
Beef Production- Placement
Skills, competencies, and Knowledge
Recipient Herd Management
Contributions to Success
1. Recipient groups are set up in groups of 50 to accept frozen
embryos from cooperative ranches. I set up cows beginning
April 15 for spring calves and November 1 for fall calves. Each
cow is allowed to go through the synchronization process up to
3 times to accept an embryo. If the cow is not pregnant the
third time, she is bred to a bull and marketed as a cow calf pair.
Managing the cows economically is the difference in our breakeven point. We are paid for pounds of cal weaned off of each
cow. Cows are carefully culled by udder quality, disposition,
and weaning performance. It is important for us to maintain a
constant supple of recipient cows. We buy in volume and prefer
heavy bred cows or cow calf pairs to have a quicker return. The
high cattle market makes purchasing cows more challenging
and I have to be on constant watch for a good set of cows at a
reasonable price.
Performance Data Interpretation
2. Even though the recip cows are not registered, the calves they
produce are. It is vital to the registered business to have a good
working knowledge of EPD’s and how they are used to stack
pedigrees and produce an even more valuable product. The
birth weight EPD is especially important to me, so I can match
the birth weight with the frame size of the recip cow. When our
cooperative ranches discuss performance information on
calves that our produced on our ranch, it is important for me to
have a working knowledge of what they are talking about. I
weigh the calves the first day they are born and again at
weaning, the 205 day weight. We get such a volume of calves
that I can really gauge how accurate the EPD’s for birth weight
and weaning weights are for different sires. In the registered
herd of cows, performance data is used to select matings for
the cows and in marketing of the calf crop.
Herd Health Management
3. The recip heard has to be carefully handled, with adequate
biosecurity measures, since there is such a large turnover of
cows. I help develop the health plan for the cows and keep
accurate records of each vaccination. Our pre-breeding
program includes wormer, modified live IBR, harjo bovis,
lutalyse and LA 200. The last two are just to clean up any
unknown health problems that might be pre-existing. The harjo
bovis vaccination is required by our cooperative ranches to aid
in their marketing/ Cows are wormed twice a year and given ecoli shot three months prior to calving. Calf hood vaccinations
are given to all heifer calves kept on our ranch. Our mineral
and supplement program is important to maintain our herd
health. We use chelated minerals when cows are being bred
and range mineral to bred cows. A medicated mineral is also
fed during the summer months to prevent anaplasmosis.
Cattle Handling Skills
4. Stocker calves are received starting in November and are on
wheat/rye pasture through June 1st. We are paid on per pound
of gain basis, so it is important that cattle start off on the right
foot. When cattle come in they are confined for 24 hours. Most
of our calves come in pre-conditioned but I still have to check
for sick or stressed calves. About 25% are received and need
to be wormed, branded, and implanted. Cattle have to be
handled easily to prevent stress. I use a hydraulic chute and
have spent time planning working facilities that aid in the ease
of handling. If a calf is sick, he is pulled and treated with an
antibiotic. The treatment is recorded in our field log. If a calf has
to be re-treated, the log is checked to see what treatment to
use next. Attention to the calves and record keeping let me
reduce the gain that is lost to sickness and helps our breakeven point.
Beef Cattle Evaluation
5. The livestock judging skills I have gained in my agriculture
class allows me to select cows for the recip program that are
structurally correct and have a body capacity to carry a calf but
maintain a body score efficiently. It is important to select cows
with a good udder and temperament since we get paid by
pounds of calf weaned. In the registered cows, I also use
EPD’s to aid in making the optimum matings. I have to look at
the calves and determine which ones will make bulls and which
ones to cut. I want the heifers to be feminine and deep bodied.
When stocker calves come in, I need to group cattle are similar
in type and appear uniform so they may be marketed for a
premium. Being able to group the calves and the ship at one
time allows handling the calves less frequently and makes the
stocker owner more profit. This mean we are first on the list to
receive the calves next year.
Hay and Forage Analysis
6. Stocker cattle are grazed on 1000 acres of wheat and rye grass
pasture. Marshall rye grass is planted with the wheat to extend
the grazing season by approximately 30 days. This practice
enables the steers to have 30 more days of grazing and
gaining at about 2 pounds per head per day. The additional
weight can be the profit of a spring grazing season. 200 acres
of native and improved grasses are used to produce hay.
Another 3800 acres are managed for use by the cows. Weeds
of native brush are controlled by applications of Cimarron Max
Herbicide. The EQUIP conversation program is also utilized for
brush and cedar control. Soil samples are taken from the
improved pastures and tested for nutrient content and for
making fertilizer recommendations. This management tool
keeps any over application at a minimum and controls
expenses.
*Additional Skills: Cow Nutrition Formulation,
Selective Breeding, Treating Sick Cows
Dairy Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Production Records
Contributions to Success
1. All of my cows are DHI tested every month. These records tell
me their reproductive status and the component levels in their
milk, giving me information for genetic improvement.
Vaccination Programs
2. All animals are vaccinated against BRD pathogens, brucellosis,
clostridium perfringens, and other diseases. These
vaccinations protect my animals and keep them in the
productive herd.
Diagnose and Treat Cows
3. I can diagnose an animal’s condition using a stethoscope,
taking her temperature, and visual signs to treat her with IV
fluids to get her back into the productive herd as quick as
possible.
Feeding and Treatment of Calves
4. This allows the calves to get a quick start and grow faster than
they would if they get sick and it is not recognized right away.
Proper nutrition is important for optimal growth.
Make Cow Feed
5. The feed is total mixed ration that gives the cows the nutrition
they need to milk the best they can. They are fed 3 times a day
to keep the feed fresh so they eat more.
Foot Care
6. It is important to have high quality hoof care so that the cows
can walk to the feed. We use a weekly footbath of copper
sulfate one day and formaldehyde the next, and work on sore
feet as needed.
Dairy Judging
7. This knowledge helps me to improve my type by being able to
select cows when I am purchasing them that have better type
traits and longevity. It also helps me correctively mate my
cows.
Bedding Cows
8. I use chopped straw over the mattresses in the free stalls. This
improves cow comfort along with keeping them clean and the
SCC count low because the straw dust keeps the cows’ beds
dry.
Bull Selection and Artificial Insemination
9. I select bulls that will improve my herd’s net merit dollars and
other traits. I can breed my own cows so they are bred at the
optimum time, which will improve pregnancy rates.
Financial Records
10. These help me to keep track of my profitability. They help me to
evaluate my overall profitability and to paint out areas where
my costs may be too high as areas to improve.
*Additional Skills: Developing Mating
Programs, Cow Nutrition, Udder Health
Maintenance, Sanitary Milking Practices
Dairy Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Learning how to have effective sanitation in the
milking facility
Contributions to Success
1. I have learned how to clean pipes, tanks, barns, and cows in
order to keep a high inspection score and reduce bacteria
counts. I begin each milking by sanitizing the pipes and milkers.
During milking, I ensure that the cows have clean teats and the
iodine dip is used properly and wiped clean. I also make sure
that the milkers stay clean and free of bedding during milking.
After milking, I scrape manure into the gutters and clean out all
managers to reduce fermentation and insect population growth.
I also clean all milkers once again, wash the bulk tank, start the
acid and detergent washes, and spray down the milk house.
Also, anyone who is from a different farm is required to wear
plastic boots in the barn to reduce the spread of disease. We
have a closed herd that is Level Four Johne’s Free, so
biosecurity is very important to our farm and is a must for our
sanitation practices
Having proper milking procedures
2. I have learned how to properly milk the cows. To begin, I wear
milking gloves to ensure minimal bacteria transfer from the
humans to the teats. I then start by wiping the teats, feeling for
mastitis, checking the stripped milk for mastitis, and pre-dipping
the cow. After sixty to ninety seconds, I wipe the iodine dip off
and put the milker on the cow. Since we have automatic takeoff
milkers, I make sure the cow is done by checking the time to
milk and amount of milk produced. If anything is suspicious, I
put the milker back on. When the cow is milked out, I post-dip
her to minimize the bacteria that get on or in her teats, to limit
infections. If the cow has mastitis, I use a quarter milker to be
sure the milk does not make it to the bulk tank, or a bucket.
These are simple steps taken to ensure milk quality,
Keeping accurate cow records
3. I have learned to keep records of each of the cows. I keep my
dad informed of breeding dates, heat dates, and somatic cell
count rates. I have transferred all of this information to
individual cow cards, which holds records of breeding, calvings,
treatments, and veterinary checks. In addition, each new heifer
calf that is born gets her own card which will follow her through
her lifetime. I also follow genetic records to make sure that
there is no inbreeding and that animals have the right family
lines. I keep track of when animals should be transferred to
different areas, based on their dry off date and calving due
dates. I also analyze the Dairy Heard Improvement Association
records to determine cull cows and production of each cow.
This is also used to identify the genetics that need to be
improved as the dairy industry has higher expectations.
Evaluating animal genetics
4. In order to enhance the herd’s genetics, I practice evaluating
animals on multiple teams through 4-H and FFA. This includes
linear evaluation, type evaluation, pedigree evaluation, and sire
selection. I use this knowledge to assist in selection of sires for
individual cows and heifers. Sire selection is based mainly on
strong udder attachments and good legs, to increase longevity
in the herd. We also select different sires for our show cows
and the grade cows that are in the herd. Show cows are
selected based upon conformation while we have a higher
emphasis on production for the grade cows. When the right
cows and sires are matched, the herd genetics improve and
result in higher type of each animal, greater longevity, and
higher production. It is always a thrill to know that your
selections have made a difference in the future of the herd.
Proper heifer nutrition
5. The future of the herd is completely dependent on the nutrition
of the calves and heifers. The calves are housed in individual
pens and fed cofostrum milk for the first three days of life. They
then switch over to a mixture of gallon and a half of pasteurized
milk and milk replacer per day. At two weeks old they are
introduced to calf starter feed. They begin receiving water at
one month old, and are weaned off of milk at two to three
months, depending on the size and genetics of the calf. At four
months they begin to get hey. When switched to a large group
pasture setting, they continue to receive grain, hay and silage
during the winter. These rations are all put together by our herd
nutritionist, whom we meet with on a monthly basis to take
samples and reevaluate all rations. Feeding the replacement
heifers correctly has and will continue to be the key to the
success of the dairy farm.
Organizing Promotions/Speaking to the Public
6. I have become more comfortable speaking to the public
throughout the last few years. This began with the corn maze. I
explained to each visitor entering the maze the rules and safety
procedures. I gave everyone a small overview of agriculture
and how it affects our daily lives. These presentations gave me
experiences in front of a small group, on the radio, and TV. I
was then able to work for Original Foods, educating consumers
about our A-2 product. I organized all store promotions,
including caring for the cow and calf through set up and tear
down during the overnight stay in the hotel parking lot. Serving
as the 2007-2008 Nebraska State Dairy Princess has given me
many opportunities to be in front of an audience, speaking
about the dairy industry. Attending dairy meetings and
conferences has made me more knowledgeable about the
industry and has helped me to become more aware of the
current issues in the industry.
*Additional Skills: Reproduction Selection and
Breeding, Monitoring Milk Quality, Calf Care,
Cow Nutrition and Care
Diversified Crop Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Selecting Varieties to increase yields
Contributions to Success
1. By using various varieties I have increased my corn production
from 133 BU to the current 147 BU/AC. My soybeans averaged
42 BU/AC this past year under drought conditions that were
exceptionally good for my area. Through reading info on
varieties I have steadily increased my yields and profit.
Selecting Forage Types
2. By selecting proper forage types for my area I have increased
my tons per acre from 4.7 in 1998 to 5.3 in 1999. I use buffalo
red alfalfa and KY 31 orchard grass to increase my overall
yield.
Safe Use of Farm Equipment
3. By following safety instructions I have been able to farm without
any major accidents over the past 4 years. By learning to shut
down equipment before getting off and keeping safety shields
in place I have stayed accident free.
Safe Use of Pesticides and Herbicides.
4. All of my crop enterprises require different chemicals. For
tobacco I use Golden Lead to control minor pest and in my corn
operation I use Prowl and Granol select. By using chemical
safely I have learned how to avoid accidents and increase my
yields.
Fertilization
5. By properly fertilizing my row crops I have produced higher
yielding crops each year. I have learned to take proper soil
samples and read soil reports to determine rates of nitrogen
and lime.
Farm Management Skills
6. By learning to keep accurate records on my various operations
I have been able to determine profitability of all my projects.
Also I have been able to keep accurate tax records to help
determine my taxes.
Building Quality Float Beds for Tobacco.
7. By building quality float beds I have been able to raise enough
plants to plant my acres without buying plants from outside
sources. Thus saving money in the end.
Stripping Tobacco Into Grades
8. By stripping into 3 grades I have increased the market price I
receive each year. The warehouses and buyers seem to pay
higher prices for tobacco that is stripped into different grades.
Learning to identify weeds and scouting my
crops
9. By early identification of weeds, at the seeding stage is
important in using the correct chemical and spraying at the
correct time. I can also spot possible problems from insects
and correct them ASAP.
Setting the planter to the proper plant
production
10. Getting the planter properly set and making sure that it is
planting and at the right depth will give you a better stand of
soybeans. This will give you a better yield and keep the weeds
down.
*Additional Skills: Monitoring Soil Fertility,
Contracting Grain Sales, Use of New
Techniques to Boost Productivity
Diversified Crop Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Combine Operation
Contributions to Success
1. The correct operation of a combine will measure your success of a
years work. A good operator will reduce the amount of field loss by
the way he sets the combine. A combine has multiple uses for
different crops and with that there are numerous amounts of
settings for these various crops. When setting a combine to
harvest corn, I check the corn head speed, stripper plate settings,
the conclave settings which is the distance between the cage and
the rotor which separates the corn from the cob. I also check the
fan speed of the combine which removes foreign material, and the
final separating process is the chaffer and the sieves which is the
final separating process for the different crops. Once all those
settings are fine tuned, I have to check the ground speed tolerance
by the use of my yield performance monitors, to determine the
correct ground speed that I should be running. Even after all the
settings have been adjusted it is still important to stop and check
the field for yield loss from the combine.
Alfalfa and Wheat Harvesting
2. Components that go into harvesting are similar for both wheat and
alfalfa. This process requires evaluating the field prior to cutting for
moisture content, then cutting begins once moisture is optimal;
windrows are combined through raking the fields which happens
prior to baling. Once baled, another employee brings in the harrow
bed or road-sider to collect bales for storage in the hay barn
located on the main farm location near the shop. Wheat must be
cut slower because it is a thicker crop that is harder on the
swathes. This plays havoc on the equipment and requires more
hours of harvesting. Typically, I cut wheat for grain rather than
baled wheat hay so there are fewer steps for processing this
commodity. However, based on demand I will do both grain and
bales depending on quality and price of the crop.
Irrigation Methods
3. Alfalfa is flood irrigated while lima beans and tomatoes grown in
furrows are irrigated through a gravity pipe system. My job is to get
the pipes going by shaking the pipes and spinning in the canal and
then siphon the pipes to start at the end of each furrow. Once set, I
check periodically to make sure that the pipes remain running. The
clay soil holds more water and thus requires less feet per acre. The
average on our farm is 1-3 feet per acre depending on the location
and temperature. We do produce volunteer wheat that is not
irrigated so it is imperative that we make sure the soil is saturated
prior to planting. It is critical that we plant wheat while soil is
saturated and climate stays consistent. However, this crop is very
hardy and tends to be a beneficial rotation crop that fits in our
season driven schedule.
Equipment Repair
4. Mechanical repair is a daily chore due to the diverse production
needs of the farm. Equipment not used as frequently tends to
require more repairs because that equipment does not get
attended to as much. Equipment used daily for long hours at a time
tends to break due to excess stress on the machinery. For this skill
I follow instructions from the farm mechanic. I have repaired
sprinklers, spot welded implements, over-hauled engines, fixed
suspension and replaced flat tires. I now use this experience at
Fresno State. I was hired right away because of my skills and
experience in servicing equipment from diverse crops. I understand
not only row crop equipment but also the specialized implement for
tree and forage production. However, due to extensive research on
campus I am learning about new implements and technology which
I am able to utilize on the farm.
Lima beans and Tomato production
5. The process starts with disking the field to get rid of precious
crops, to aerate soil and bring up nutrients. Then furrows are made
and transplants (tomatoes) or seeds (lima beans) are planted.
Then packing furrows begin to ensure irrigation water runs
smoothly and to maintain the strength of the furrow. Irrigation is
started along with the cultivation of weeds and then this process
repeats until harvesting. At the harvest time labor crews are
secured and the tomato and bean harvesters must be ready to
work for several days until all the fields are cleared. The tomatoes
are loaded into trucks and taken to Campbell’s for canned
processing while beans are hauled to the bean processing plant. I
have had the opportunity to run the harvester in a limited capacity
and do supervise small work crew during tomato planting and
spraying times.
Record Keeping
6. Early on, my FFA Advisor showed me how to keep track of SAE
projects by recording hours worked and what I did in my record
books. I took my book home and at the end of each week I record
my hours and the jobs I complete onto the calendar. I then use this
calendar to log my time cards for payment. Once a payment is
received the stub is cross-checked with my calendar to make sure
that all is correct. Now I utilize this skill being employed at Fresno
State. I work on all units servicing production equipment,
constructing fences, compostling and installing equipment. I must
keep track of my hours and work due to my need to be at different
units. I also have to do paperwork on all maintenance, repair and
installation of equipment that provides detailed information on each
job that is given to my boss.
*Additional Skills: Monitoring Plant Health,
Pruning and Plant Maintenance, Effective
Fertilizing Techniques
Diversified Horticulture- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Fertilizer Formulation—Proper use and knowledge of
different types and proportions of fertilizer.
Contributions to Success
1. Knowledge of proper use of fertilizers enables me
to always have the right proportions and mixes for
optimum growth and flower production.
Record Keeping—Proper knowledge of budget sheets,
inventory records, and planting schedules.
2. Keeping proper records helps in keeping planting
and transplanting dates to ensure I make proper
dates for sales, and keeps finances easier to track.
Pest Control—Properly Identifying insects, disease, or
weed invasion. Properly and safely using chemicals that
are labeled for greenhouse use.
3. Proper identification of pest allows for the
maximum control with the least amount of labor,
expense, with a minimum of damage to plants.
Heath vigorous plants are then available to sell to
clients.
Greenhouse light control—Efficiently using the amount of
light for proper growth and the benefits of using for heat
sources.
4. Knowledge of proper lighting helps to reduce the
amount of artificial lighting. Use of shade cloth to
reduce intense rays during the summer and using
artificial light in winter for optimum growth.
Plant Identification—Properly identifying trees and plants
that will grow best in this area. Knowledge of plants and
use in landscaped areas.
5. Produce the types and quality of plants that will
benefit the customers. Knowledge of plants
ensures the best strains of trees will be produced to
grow to their potential in this area.
Customer Relations—Identifying the customer’s needs and
working to meet the wants and demands of the customer.
6. It is very important as a new business to win over
new customers. Once you have established
customer relations it is important to keep the
present and future customers happy.
Chemical Safety—Proper use of potentially harmful
chemicals. Using proper procedures in use of chemicals,
and proper storage and care.
7. The proper knowledge of how to properly use, store
and maintain chemicals allows me to maintain a
safe environment of my family and customers. It
also allows me safe plants for resale.
Building Maintenance—Keeping all buildings, sheds, and
work areas in working condition and shape for full potential
use.
8. Keeping buildings in proper working condition helps
to maximize use and benefits of the areas. Keeping
order is also a major part of ensuring the maximum
amount of usable space in a greenhouse.
Crop Scheduling—Planting and growing trees and plants to
be sold at the time of the needs and wants of the customer.
9. Proper timing of mature plants is essential to the
business. To maximize the amount of plants sold to
the consumer it is essential that plants reach
maturity at the appropriate times.
Plant Propagation—Using current plant inventory to create
new plant stocks, sowing seeds and grafting also increases
variety.
10. Being able to properly cut and root cuttings allows
for uniform plants with the same genetics. Using
seeds creates variety for the customer and grafting
creates specialty plants for the customer.
*Additional Skills: Greenhouse Management,
Environmental Control, Plant Reproduction, Flower Care
Diversified Horticulture- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Learned how to propagate plants
Contributions to Success
1. Propagating mums properly is essential to a good
crop. Making sure to use the right size pots for
variety of mums we plant is very important. Also,
the number of mum plugs per pot is very important
as well. If you do not place enough mums in a pot
the plant will not look right. It will be very thin.
However, if you place too many plugs in a pot then
there might be too much competition for soil
nutrients and some plants may die. Other crops
such as pumpkins also need special attention when
you are propagating them especially when it comes
to spacing.
Learned how to install irrigation systems
2. Learning to install irrigation systems is not very
hard but it is time consuming. You have to make
sure that the right size diameter pipe is being used
so that the correct amount of psi is being run
through the lines. If too much pressure is placed in
the main lines that could cause the drip lines to pop
out. If a drip line pops out with as many mums as
we have a mum could die from lack of water before
you would ever know it.
Learned how to fertilize plants
3. Properly fertilizing plants is essential to a good crop
of mums. We use a 20-20-20 liquid fertilized to
provide major nutrients such as nitrogen,
Phosphorus, and Potassium along with minor
nutrients as well. I have learned what signs to look
for in a plant so I can determine if the plants need
more or less fertilizer added to the irrigation
system. We also use a slow released fertilizer
called osmocot.
Learned how to display merchandise to attract customers
attention and sell products
4. By placing products next to high customer traffic
areas some of our higher profiting items sell much
better. This enables our products, especially our
mums to move much faster through the sale
season. People enjoy seeing items placed in a way
that are pleasing to the eye. If you take pride in
your products your customers will reward you with
their patronage year after year. By selling our
products I have also become skilled at working with
the public and I have learned the financial side of
the business.
Learned how to maintain turf grass and landscaping
equipment
5. Maintaining equipment is a very important skill that
I have learned. I have learned that the life
expectancy of equipment can be much longer if day
to day maintenance is performed such as:
changing oil, changing filters, greasing fittings and
many other tasks as well. Prevention is the key to
less down time as will. In some cases, if a piece of
equipment is not working properly it can cause my
employer to lose money. That is not good for
anyone involved.
Learned how to keep records on business and personal
accounts
*Additional Skills: Floral Design, Plant Identification,
Controlling Plant Growth, Greenhouse Management
6. Keeping accurate records is vital to any successful
company. My employer depends upon me to keep
tract of sales, propagation dates, weather statistics,
product loss, and time sheets just to name a few.
This has also helped me in my personal life by
opening a checking account and keeping track of
my SAE records as well.
Diversified Livestock Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Financial Record Keeping
Contributions to Success
1. Allowed me to expand my operation through accurate records.
Evaluating working capital and debt to equity
ratio
2. Lets me handle operating expenses on a cash basis borrowing
only to expand livestock operation.
Livestock judging
Market animal evaluation
3. Selection based on a consumer driven market.
Breeding herd
4. Selection based on genetics and Expected Progeny Differences
(EPDs).
Meats judging
5. Evaluating carcasses of my steers, lambs, & hogs to become
aware of what I produce.
Veterinary
6. Diagnose, doctor, and prevent health problems before they
occur.
Obstetrics (dystocia)
7. Recognizing & taking action during difficult births saves
livestock.
Pasture management
8. Graze at proper time for best production
Pasture rotation
9. Utilize grass for best production per acre.
Farm safety awareness skills
10. Correct operation of equipment to be safe for myself & others
*Additional Skills: Breeding Livestock, Artificial
Insemination, Animal Health Management,
Birthing Livestock, Pedigree Evaluation
Diversified Livestock Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Feed Preparation for Beef Cattle
Contributions to Success
1. Grinding our own feed has dramatically reduced the amount of
money we spend at the feed mill. We are now able to decide
exactly what goes into the feed instead of just buying pre-made
mixture because it the only kind available. Balancing our cattle
rations has cut costs and improved feed efficiency. Twice a
month we combine 50 pounds of calcium, 50 pounds of trace
mineral salt with selenium, 250 pounds of 33% protein pellets,
200 pounds oats, and 1450 pounds of corn. This mixture is fed
to the calves which range in weight from 100 pounds to 550
pounds that have been weaned and need to put on the ideal
weight before they are transferred to the farm across the road.
There the steers are fed a different ration that will take them
most efficiently up to market weight. This has helped our
animals gain muscle instead of fat which is greatly favored by
the consumers.
Animal Husbandry
2. Our calves are dehorned and castrated between the ages of six
to eight weeks. It is important to complete these tasks when the
animals are small so that they are easier to work with. Our
method of dehorning the calves is with a hand held horn saw.
We tie the animal up so that it stands still while we are
performing the procedure. The horn is cut off at a deep level to
remove horn-growing tissue at the base. After the horn is
removed, we apple clotting powder to the area so that the calf
doesn’t lose too much blood. We castrate the elastrator rings
because they provide the best protection from infection and
excessive bleeding. The rubber ring is applied as high on the
scrotum as possible. The tissue below this area dies as a result
of the lack of blood which causes the contents of the scrotal sac
to with, dry up and die.
Maintaining Herd Health
3. It is very important to maintain the health of every animal in our
operation. This is crucial in reducing death loss and increasing
weight gain. Using the preventive vaccines along with doctoring
sick calves has helped keep our operation profitable. Also, time
is saved in the long run and we are able to lower our vet costs.
Right after we buy the calves, we give them Bovine Rota, a
coronaravirus vaccine to prevent the scours, TSV2 for
pneumonia, and setenium. At six months we give the animals
BovaShield 4 which projects them from IBR, BVD 1&2, P13,
and BRSV. The beef cows receive BovaShield 4 as well, along
with vaccines for lepto and pink eye. Some medications the
cattle are given when they become ill include: penicillin for
bacterial infections, Recover for pneumonia, Nuflor for bovine
repertory disease, Corid for coccidiosis, and a liquid sulfur
antibiotic for scours.
Predator Damage Control
4. When we realized how many different fish eating predators
there were, we decided to build a wire mesh fence surrounding
the entire two acre pond to protect them. We began in June of
2005 and completed the tack in August of 2005. The steps we
took to build this fence included digging a foot deep trench
around the pond, burying the wooden and metal posts into the
ground, rolling out the fencing, placing it in the trench, and
finally securing the fencing to the posts. My parents, my
brother, and I worked every day to complete the task and it was
well worth the time and effort. In the summer of 2006 a
thunderstorm caused a tree to fall on the fence, and we had to
take the necessary actions to repair it. We now constantly
check for any damage to the mesh wire fence because this
technique has worked extremely well in preventing loss due to
predators.
Aeration
5. Aeration is one of the key points of raising quality bluegills in
tanks and ponds. When you add extra oxygen to the water it
increases and aids the production of the good kind of bacteria
that every pond needs to be clear and healthy. On our farm we
use a generator instead of a windmill because they are more
reliable, and we don’t have to worry about whether or not we
have enough wind to be able to aerate. We check the generator
every day to make sure it is working properly. The aerators are
run throughout the entire year; however it is most important
during the winter months. This is when they allow us to keep
holes in the ice so that we can continue to feed the bluegills.
During the summer we use the aerators to maintain good
oxygen levels which are usually eight and ten parts per million,
which is checked by using dissolved oxygen tests. Using
aeration is crucial in running a profitable bluegill farm.
Plant Control
6. Usually people don’t take extra time to kill the algae and
seaweed that builds up around their ponds. Removing these
plants increases oxygen content and produces healthier fish.
We decided that we weren’t going to use dyes to get rid of our
plants because they could possibly harm the fish and cause
more harm than the seaweed and algae that was there to begin
with. Instead we use a long handled metal rake to scoop the
unwanted plants out of the water. After doing this we haul them
away to the woods so they can decompose. It is important to
complete this task because if you too much plant growth it
overtakes the pond and uses up too much of the water’s
nutrients. It may also make it harder for the feeding and
observing of the fish. The food can get hung up on the top of
the seaweed and rot which leads to high nitrate levels. Plant
control is critical when trying to keep the fish healthy and our
pond looking beautiful.
*Additional Skills: Breeding and Artificial
Insemination Techniques, Swine Farrowing,
Mare and Foal Care, Vaccinating and Working
Cattle
Emerging Agricultural Technology- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge.
Contributions to Success.
GE Fanuc CIMPLICIYT Screen Design and
Troubleshooting
1. Gaining an understanding of complex factory software allowed
me to implement computerized control of two direct steam
injection (DSI) aseptic process machines, a batching system,
and a clean in place (CIP) system for production of aseptically
packaged soymilk. This was the primary focus of my position at
Hoffman Aseptic.
Relay Ladder Logic programming
2. Investing several hours in reading ladder logic books created
the opportunity for me to lessen the workload of CIMPLICITY
by moving valve pulsing, pump starting, and cycle operation
from the control room PC to the specialized computer called a
programmable logic controller (PLC).
PLC Hardware Troubleshooting
3. Allowed me to ascertain various problems with PLCs and
assorted hardware without consulting with technicians with
either GE Fanuc or Allen-Bradley.
Reporting and Documentation
4. By reporting program functions and documenting each step the
program makes, this allows the operators to understand and
comprehend the fundamentals of each machine's operation,
creating a more informed, intelligent operator.
Computer Knowledge
5. My background in computer programming and operation
allowed me to learn software packages quickly, adding to the
speed of project completion. Previous experience in
programming computers also added to the speed of learning
ladder logic, since all programming languages are, underneath,
structured similarly.
Calibrating Feeding Systems
6. To maximize fertilizer rations and control costs. I calibrate the
feeding systems according to the strength of the fertilizer mix,
age of the plant and radiation energy (sunlight) the plant is
exposed to in the green house.
Utilizing the Scientific Method
7. I have a goal of expanding production to a one-acre
greenhouse. Developing a hypothesis and running trials on my
cucumber plants is helping me to refine the process for growing
cucumbers in a large scale greenhouse.
Set Computer
8. Regulating greenhouse operations is easier with a computer.
My end goal is to expand this research project into the
completely computerized hydroponic greenhouse, so I have
learned all operations associated with the facility.
*Additional Skills: Testing pH and Electro
Conductivity, Laser Scraping Data Collection,
Use of New Agriculture Technologies
Emerging Agricultural Technology- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge.
Communication Skills
Contributions to Success.
1. When conducting the experiment, I came to realize there were
some skills I needed in the laboratory. I learned the scientific
method, safety skills, and many other skills needed when working
in the laboratory. When analyzing the data, I learned when using a
sensitive balance, anything can sway the weight. Whether it was
the airflow or the surface the balance was sitting on being moved,
the reading could be inaccurate. This was controlled by close
monitoring of the surroundings. When drying the samples, I used
an incubator to insure all moisture was removed so the data would
not be changed due to water weight. Also, using items, such as
gloves and safety glasses, we necessary when handling the
chemical, urea, and when operating the tractor. I learned that
precise laboratory skills also help researchers eliminate errors
which can introduce variables that will invalidate the findings of
research.
Computer Skills
2. Through my supervised agriculture experience project, I obtained
and applied the skills needed for research, data collection, and
writing. When beginning my SAE I had very limited computer skills.
I had some basic knowledge in using Microsoft programs such as
Excel and Word. As I progressed with my SAE, I learned more
about computer skills because I was using them more often. In the
first portion of my SAE I developed better web searching skills
through using search engines to conduct background research.
Throughout my SAE, I was continuously using Microsoft Word to
convey my findings and design the prototype. I used Excel to
perform a statistical analysis, called “Analysis of Variance,” to
evaluate the data. I also continuously used excel to represent my
data through charts and spreadsheets. These many computer skills
I have learned will not only help me today in working with my SAE
but it will also be helpful to me in college and later on in my future
career.
Agriculture Mechanics skills for construction of
filters
3. I designed several filters on paper until I decided which one would
work better when fabricated. I built the experimental filter and the
operational prototype in the agriculture mechanics lab with the help
of my agriculture mechanics teach and input from my agriscience
teacher. When constructing the filters I had to remember many
safety skills I learned. In constructing both filters I used many skills
including: PVC pipe work, caulking, measuring, using the drill
press, using an acetylene torch, and metal work. My experimental
filter was essentially a five gallon, sealed bucket with an input pipe
and an output pipe. I installed several bends in the output pipe to
prevent the urea from ejecting from the filter. The operational
prototype was made of PVC, a 4x6 basin and a microfiltration pad.
The PVC input was attached to the basin with microfiltration pad
placed the two in order to keep the urea from escaping through the
output of the filter.
Precision measurement of particulate matter
4. Through my supervised agriculture experience project, I obtained
and applied the skills needed for research, data collection, and
writing. When beginning my SAE I had very limited computer skills.
I had some basic knowledge in using Microsoft programs such as
Excel and Word. As I progressed with my SAE, I learned more
about computer skills because I was using them more often. In the
first portion of my SAE I developed better web searching skills
through using search engines to conduct background research.
Throughout my SASE, I was continuously using Microsoft Word to
convey findings and design the prototype. I used Excel to perform
a statistical analysis, called “Analysis of Variance,” to evaluate the
data. I also continuously used Excel to represent my data through
charts and spreadsheets. These many computer skills I have
learned will not only help me today in working with my SAE but it
will also be helpful to me in college and later on in my future
career.
Urea technology/filters installation and
operation
5. Once the experimental filter was designed, the next step was to
install and test it. Several other parts were necessary to attach the
filter to the exhaust, including a flex pipe and several hose clamps.
Then, the flex pipe was attached to the experimental urea filter.
The top of the filter was removed and approximately 25 pounds of
urea was poured in the filter. The top was replaced and the flex
hose was attached to the filter input pipe. I encountered problems
when using the experimental filter I was able to install the
operational prototype much the same way. I attached the flex pipe
to the PVC using hose clamps much like with the experimental
filter, but I was able to attach the operational prototype to the
tractor. By attaching the operational prototype to the tractor I was
able to drive the tractor under normal field conditions and the filter
the emissions.
Statistical Analysis
6. Statistical analysis was important to this project. Before starting the
data collection portion, I had to learn to use the statistical analysis
pack on the MS Excel. I wrote a hypothesis based on the
information learned in the background study. The hypothesis stated
that I was going to prove that the data was statistically significant
by conducting the statistical analysis. The data was then analyzed.
I used ANOVA statistical analysis to compare the averages of the
small data sets, such as those generated in the experiment of
using urea as a filter, to determine if the differences were
statistically significant. A P-value of more than 0.05 was considered
significant. The ANOVA was an appropriate evaluation because it
“predicts” with confidence the significance that would occur in a
larger sample set. After analyzing data, the hypothesis for each
study was proven. These and other skills I learned in my SAE are
skills that engineers use daily.
*Additional Skills: Merging Technology with
standard Farm Practices, Integrating Computer
Use into Agriculture Practices
Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge.
Reforestation
Contributions to Success.
1. Reforestation is key for preserving the environment and the natural
resources. One benefit of forests is that they provide habitat for
wildlife and reduce fragmentation. Fragmentation is the process of
separating a large forest into smaller forests. Converting forests
into smaller, more isolated areas decreases biodiversity from the
lack of interior forest for interior species such as the wood thrush.
The more interior forest there is compared to the edge area, which
is the area which edge species prey on others, the more diversity
of species there will be. I was accompanied by several other
students and over a period of three years, we planted
approximately 9,500 trees and shrubs. After planting, we staked all
the barefoot trees to support them, placed weed barriers around
the base, and wrapped them to prevent the mice from chewing the
bark off and killing the tree. The wrap used was expandable so as
the tree grows, the material does not girdle the tree.
Wildlife Surveys
2. Wildlife is just one aspect of the natural resources, but it is one that
gets a lot of attention. Wildlife surveys are the key way for agencies
to determine the population density of certain animals and
determine if there is a viable population. There are various ways in
which surveys can be conducted. This includes banding and
tagging animals for re-capture, collecting dead carcasses, and
observing the calls of certain species during the mating season.
Banding and tagging is one of the most popular for wildlife surveys.
For example, by banding woodpeckers we can input the number of
re-captures and new captures into a computer program to estimate
their population. Information such as this can then be used to
regulate hunting regulations, measure the success of management
practices, and determine if further management is needed. I have
conducted all of the surveys listed and performed many of the
tasks involved with them including banding the birds.
Erosion Control
3. Erosion can drastically impact an environment by imputing
chemicals and fertilizer which potentially can kill fish and other
organisms, create gullies, and wash away topsoil needed for plants
to survive. To combat the effects of soil erosion, methods such as
terracing, creating grass waterways, or planting trees. For this
project, my classmates and I were first instructed by my agriculture
teacher on the methods for erosion control. After this, we
proceeded to assist the USFWS to plant trees on three newly
constructed islands on the Mississippi River. These islands were
constructed to shelter a bay which would help preserve valuable
vegetation for waterfowl by blocking incoming waves from the main
channel. In order for the islands to withstand constant battering
from the waves, we planted trees and shrubs on the islands. As the
trees and shrubs steadily grow, their combined root structure will
support the shoreline and center of the islands.
Documentation, Data Entry, and Laboratory
Measurement
4. Accurate documentation and data entry are essential for good
scientific research so that results can be accurately explained. If
data entries are not clear and accurate then others will not be able
to check and evaluate the results. For each study we keep a
separate log book that contains all of the study data, including the
date, place and study procedures. All activity logs are signed and
dated and then placed into a fire proof cabinet. Laboratory
measurements are made in a variety of ways. The most common
measurement equipment is a graduated cylinder and balance
depending on whether the product is in liquid or powder form.
Measurements are not only made in the lab. In fact, most of the
time, they are made in the field where conditions are more
challenging. Accuracy and documentation is an essential part of
my SAE, as well as an invaluable skill I can use throughout my
personal and professional life.
Rare Species Snow Tracking
5. Wildlife is surveyed in many ways to determine their population
densities. These methods include the use of airplane, live traps,
and observations by citizens. Many of these techniques involve
directly seeing the animal and possibly invading its territory.
However there are methods that are non-invasive or techniques in
which the survey does not come into direct contact with the animal.
One of these techniques is snow tracking. Through a workshop I
attended, I was instructed by Jim Halfpenny on how to differentiate
between tracks of various families, the five basic strides, and how
to distinguish various types of behaviors of the animal depending
on how the tracks are positioned. For examples, if you find that a
wolf stops to urinate and you see that there is a yellow stain on the
outside of the footprint, you are most likely tracking an alpha wolf.
The stain on the outside of the track means that the animal lifted its
leg which only alphas do.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Sampling
6. CWD is a fatal neurological disease that is transmittable only
between members of the cervid or deer family. Members of the
cervid family include elk, white tailed deer, and mule deer. With the
massive amount of cases in the western states and numerous
cases around the Madison region the Wisconsin DNR decided to
begin a sampling survey and test various counties in Wisconsin
each year. In 2006, Buffalo County was selected to be sampled
and our county wildlife biologist asked if my classmates and I
would lead a sampling site. For this project we were required to
remove the head of the deer from the carcass, tag the deer, and
place it in a plastic bag and put it in a freezer. We cut the head off
four inches below the lower jaw to preserve the lymph nodes. We
took the harvest location of the deer and gave them a duplicate tag
to check the status of their deer online. 578 heads were collected
throughout the county. All the heads were tested and came back
negative for CWD.
*Additional Skills: Heavy Equipment Operation,
Wood Grinder Operation, Land Restoration and
Land Restoration Techniques
Equine Science- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Nutrition Management
Contributions to Success
1. The horses that are in training and showing are fed 2-3 pounds
of grain per day, along with supplemental feed which allows for
conditioned hair coat, feet, and longevity of bones, tendons,
and ligaments. I also feed an 18% alfalfa in the morning and oat
hay in the evening. I alternate to prevent kidney stones from the
high calcium content in alfalfa hay.
Veterinary Skills
2. I can administer injections, oral medications and treat wounds. I
have learned how to identify and treat common injuries, using
my best judgment as to which I have had the most success.
Environmental Management
3. I have developed a waste management program, which allows
me to maintain a sanitary environment and greatly reduce
health risks. I manage the manure by piles it and creating
compost of which I water and later sell or use as fertilizer for my
garden.
Safety Management
4. I have built hazard free fences. I also installed automatic waters
and built feeders, which most closely conform to the horse’s
natural grazing position as a preventative to future injuries.
Alternative Medicine Skills
5. From my interest in alternative medicine, through schooling and
veterinary ride along I have been able to learn to identify many
common lameness and chiropractic or electrically stimulate
treatment to the area of inflammation or soreness. This greatly
reduces veterinary cost and allows for my own expansion of
knowledge in this area of study,
Exercising and Breaking Horses
6. Horses will maintain a more desired condition and remain more
athletic and healthy. Horses maintain an ideal body condition
score.
Monitoring the overall health of my horses to
assure no problems
7. By spending time watching the behavior of my horses each day
I have been able to identify potential problems related to
diseases and parasites and take care of them early thus
reducing diseases.
Vaccinating to assure health and longevity of
my animals
8. By learning how to read drug labels and understanding how to
prepare needles, I have been able to start working very closely
with my animals in terms of disease control which has led to 0
diseases.
Hoof Care
9. By spending time cleaning out the hooves of my horses, I have
been able to avoid a hoof problem which in return has allowed
me to perform better at various events I attend.
Safety through understanding horse behavior
and potential hazards
10. By understanding the vision of the horse and their nature I have
been able to stay accident free throughout the course of my
program. Also I have been able to keep others around me safe.
*Additional Skills: Breaking Colts, Using Horse
Drawn Vehicles, Horse Training for Various
Uses
Equine Science- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Horse Husbandry
Contributions to Success
1. Horse husbandry is a key factor in working at a horse
production farm. Everything we do, including training,
medicating, sorting or selling horses, depends on our ability to
work calmly and comfortably with these animals. Every day we
are required to look after foals, stallions, and everything in
between. Due to the presences of the studs, we have to keep
track of where we put certain horses. These studs are
somewhat of an inconvenience because of their attitudes and
territorial behavior. Due to the massive number of younger
horses, we have to keep control of the fences and make sure
that their environment is safe. Along with the fence repair we
also have to keep the horses split up and in herds that are
manageable in number. The way we normally do this by
separating the colts and fillies when they are long yearlings (a
year and one-half old).
Equine Healthcare
2. Due to the number of horses on the farm, it is very easy for
other horses to contract diseases and illnesses. Along with this
threat, cuts and wounds can also be another major issue with
large number herds. Luckily, we have the right medications and
treatment for these injuries. One skill I have perfected at Cudd
Quarter Horses is the ability to administer shots and care for
the injured. Since starting at Cudd’s I have treated leg cuts,
gaping wounds, and every kind of disease imaginable. These
tasks helped me learn the medications and techniques
necessary to cure these horses. Some of the medications we
use are to treat strangles or tetanus. We sometimes use lutalice
to bring mares into heat during the breeding season. Working at
Cudd Quarter Horses has further enabled me to improve my
skills before entering veterinary school during college.
Barn Management
3. Working at a horse farm requires a lot of responsibility and
knowledge, but there is a whole different world behind the
scenes. Keeping the barns clean and sanitary is a very
important part of keeping a business going. Some of the barn
chores include cleaning stalls, sweeping hallways, and repair
and maintenance of stalls and pens. Cleaning stalls is a very
important, yet sometimes menial job. Due to the number of
horses at the farm, if one was to catch an illness or disease it
would be very ease for another animal to contract the illness.
Therefore, sanitary stalls are an aid in the healthcare of the
animals. Sweeping hallways also aids in the healthcare of the
horses as well as making the place attractive and clean. Stall
repair and maintenance is very important for the overall upkeep
of the farm. Sometimes a horse might bend or break a bar;
without the skill to fix it, the stall wouldn’t properly work.
Equine Evaluation and Selection
4. Every year my employer purchases about 20-25 weaning colts
to sell when they get older. Due to the amount of new horses, I
have acquired the skill to judge and evaluate these future
athletes. I have realized that no matter the breeding there is
always a flaw in a horse. Whether it is weak pasterns or a little
slow in the head, there is no such thing as perfection. The main
way I have influenced my skill is through the selection of
breeding horses. With over sixty mares and ten studs, the
possibilities are endless. Therefore, I am able to guess what the
foal will be like and see how close my prediction will compare.
Overall, I have been able to look at many horses and see how
each has their own weaknesses and advantages.
Breeding
5. Since Cudd Quarter Horses is a production operation,
reproduction is the main source of income. By having a
superfluous amount of mares and an excellent herd of stallions
to choose from, the farm is able to produce elite foals with great
potential. Some skills I have gained in this area include safe
handling practices, quality selection, and pedigree familiarity.
Holding mares during hand breeding has allowed me to
practice safe handling techniques. One important idea I have to
constantly remember is to keep the mare in between me and
the stallion. By learning the pedigrees of all the horses, I have
enhanced my ability to select quality parents. I can also help
customers at sales with the knowledge of these pedigrees.
Proper Operation of Machinery
6. Being able to operate heavy machinery is a must when working
on any kind of farm. With the manure build-up we are frequently
required to remove manure and transfer it out to the pastures.
Until I started at Cudd Quarter Horse Farms, I had no idea how
to drive a tractor; but with the help of my employer and a lot of
practice I can now be depended on to spread the manure in the
pastures. This is important for two reasons. Keeping the barns
clean is essential to maintain a healthy herd. It is also beneficial
because the amount of manure produced can be used to our
advantage. Spreading manure in the pastures utilized that
waste as cheap, safe fertilizer. This leads to greener pastures
and better nutrition for the horses in the spring and summer
months.
*Additional Skills: Breaking Colts, Training
Horses for Various Activities, Training Show
Horses
Fiber Crop Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Developed Marketing Plan
Contributions to Success
1. A marketing plan is a valuable tool when it comes to selling
crops. My marketing plan had me set my end profitability goals;
so that I knew the minimum price I would need to be selling at.
Record Keeping
2. By learning of records in Farm Business Management, I was
able to make better decisions, market smarter, track my income
and expenses, and manage my business better
Team Management
3. Working as a team is a key part to running a farm. I was able to
manage my team, so that we worked more productively and
achieved greater results. We worked together and adapted to
new challenges.
Negotiation Skills
4. Negotiations play a large role in minimizing costs for an
operation. I negotiated with dealers to achieve lower end prices
of seed, chemicals, fertilizer, and insurance.
Knowledge of GPS and John Deere GS2
system
5. The use of GPS allows greater operator comfort and efficiency
in the field. Overlap and skip were eliminated, which decreased
wasted inputs and saved money, resources, and time.
Operating Machinery
6. Cutting edge machinery aids in productivity and comfort. The
knowledge of operating various machines saves learning time
and makes applications faster.
Transportation of Chemicals and Fertilizers
7. Preparing chemical and fertilizer formulas for the proper
applications is an important part in production agriculture. My
private applicator’s training has given me the knowledge of
proper procedures.
Buying land
8. Purchasing land is a large investment that requires careful
consideration and thought. This transaction allowed me to
begin my operation and will give me knowledge and experience
for future purchases.
Drainage in Fields and Ditches
9. Drainage greatly increases productivity and is a valuable tool in
managing fields. This process allowed me to plant at an earlier
time and take advantage of more of my land.
Storage Management
10. Management of stored products makes a more efficient
operation. I learned how to effectively store and condition grain
to gain the highest price and least discounts.
*Additional Skills: Combine Operation, Trucking
Grain, Use of Fertilizers, Knowledge of Planting
Techniques
Fiber and Oil Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Seedbed Preparation
Contributions to Success
1. Part of the land we farm is traditional farm land and not no-fill.
One of my jobs is to help prepare the seedbeds. I good
seedbed is vital to keeping moisture and germination at optimal
levels. My goal is to help increase our germination and seed
populations each year. Also, I try to keep soil loss at minimum
levels. A variety of row crop practices are followed on our farm.
For example, we use terraces, farming on contour, grassed
waterways, and leveling of fields with dirt pans. I will disk a field
two or three times and run seedbed conditioning equipment
either a do-all or roller compactor over the field before planting.
With fuel prices soaring we are looking at cutting the number of
trips over a field but sometimes it cannot be helped. We have
had some years with large rainfall and the ground is like
concrete so I have to get it loose for the seed and get some air
movement in the soil.
Chemical Applications
2. In order to maintain high yields each year, chemical
applications are a must. I can help our crop operation by
applying the right amount and type of chemicals. I hope to get a
high grade and quality of cotton. The last few years we had
high yields for our farm. I have increased our yield the past two
years by using different chemical applications. I was in charge
of spraying all the cotton this last year. I had to calibrate the
sprayer and the GPS unit. One day, my dad came to spray
while I ate my lunch and the foam markers were not working.
He got off the sprayer and said, “How are you keeping up with
where you are going?” I told him I was using the GPS, he has
not been back to take my place again. He said we had the best
coverage on chemicals he had seen this year. I know I will be
spraying from here on out.
Soil Testing
3. In order to increase yields and our profit, I soil test our fields
each year. By taking these soil readings I can apply fertilizer
and lime to get maximum yields. Most farmers take soil
sampling for granted or do not follow the rates of lime and
fertilizer suggested. I cannot afford to guess the proper rate to
apply. Since I do the soil samples my Dad has been glad to
send them off and has been following the recommended rates. I
have been able to win several awards the past few years. I won
the cotton production yield award the last two years and was
third this year. That was due to lack of rain we have no irrigated
land. I have won the soybean production award the last four
years in the FFA. Our highest yield was sixty-nine bushels of
soybeans on non-irrigated land. I have been able to see our
yields increase by following good management decisions like
soil testing.
Machinery Operation: Combines, pickers,
sprayer, tractor
4. One of my goals is to be able to operate a great variety of
machinery. I enjoy driving the tractors, trucks, combines, and
even the backhoe. I also enjoy doing different jobs such as
disking or hauling grain. As I get older I am constantly learning
how to do different tasks on the farm. Of course when I talk
about driving tractors that is with a disk or no-till drill or some
other type of tillage equipment behind it. This year I have been
running the sprayer more than anything. One thing my Dad is
doing is shifting more jobs that require precise attention to
detail to me. My uncle has bragged on what a good job I am
doing running the spray coupe. He said he has not seen any
skips where weeds have escaped. They have both given me a
lot more responsibility the last two years. My Dad wants me to
be involved in all phases of the operation. He knows that I
expect to run the farming operation.
Machinery Repair and Maintenance
5. I am able to help in the repair of our equipment. I may have to
replace bearings, disks, work on drills, or replace belts and
chains on the combines. By keeping machinery in good working
order, it helps keep down time to a minimum and the trade-in
value to a maximum. Once we get in the middle of planting or
harvesting, preventative maintenance will keep us running
smoothly. I have also helped cut cost on down time. I pressure
wash most of the equipment when we are finished and I have a
good eye for spotting worn out of broken items on the
equipment. I have been able to save us several dollars in repair
bills by catching parts that need to be replaced before the part
actually breaks. Any farmer in our area will tell you we have
some of the best maintained equipment in Madison County.
Our combines have never stayed out at night unprotected. They
are covered or put in a shed for the night.
Stalk cutting and Clipping Fields
6. During any season, one of my responsibilities is cutting and
clipping around the edges of fields to help maintain a clear and
brush-free field time. We also plant CRP grass and every now
and then I have to clip those fields. During harvest when I am
not operating the combine, picker or grain buggy, I will cut
stalks to prepare for winter wheat and to reduce growth on the
plants. My dad rotated my jobs especially when I was younger
to let me get the feel of all the equipment. Another reason we
clip and cut stalks is to help hold down the insect populations.
We know if we can destroy their winter habitat we can cut their
population numbers. I am amazed when people talk about how
neat and clean our fields are. This is something I have learned
to take pride in and I want our farming operation to stand out
about other operations in the county and West Tennessee. It
does take a little more time but it is worth it.
*Additional Skills: Field Management, Use of
Harvesting Equipment, Seeding Techniques
Floriculture-Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Pest identification and elimination
Contributions to Success
1. All greenhouse operations are going to experience the need for
good pest management. In my operation I make weekly
inspections to ensure that I am producing a healthy and
saleable product.
Temperature Control
2. In my operation I am not fortunate enough to have the most
modern equipment therefore I have had to keep a close eye on
weather patterns and temperatures to make sure my plants are
safe.
Record Keeping
3. Planting times, purchasing calendars, sell dates, cutting and
propagation dates are all important records along with financial
records that must be accurately kept in order to make a profit.
Plant Propagation
4. To save money I take my own cuttings of common hanging
baskets and geraniums. To make a healthy plant these cuttings
must be correctly performed and timed according to growth
rates and my sell date.
Seed Selection
5. I have researched several seed companies to find the best
deals and the best germination percentages. By selecting the
proper seed I have been able to save on some expense and
time loss.
Watering
6. One of the toughest tasks I have is to be an active student in
my school and community while at the same time maintaining a
proper watering schedule to maintain beautiful plants.
Greenhouse Maintenance
7. I routinely check my greenhouse for damage and the presence
of algae growth. Both of these maintenance items are easily
cured however if unattended could reduce the quality of my
plants.
Establishing a Fertilizer Program
8. To ensure that my plants are growing at the correct pace, I
have had to rely on an effective fertilizer program. My
agriculture teacher has helped with selection and dosages to
produce healthy plants.
Marketing
9. Through word of mouth and visibility to my community I have
been able to market my homegrown products so that I have a
constant customer base and income.
Soil Testing
10. I make periodic soil tests of my growing media to make sure my
pH and EC numbers are at proper levels. If I have some issue I
can quickly correct the problem so I do not experience a
deficiency.
*Additional Skills: Development of Ornamental
Plants, Germination of Seeds, Cutting and
Design of Plants, Seed collecting, Sorting and
Counting
Floriculture-Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Display of Plants
Contributions to Success
1. Displays play a big part in the impulse of buying flowers, as well
as just bringing the customers into the greenhouse or garden
center. They also provide an opportunity to educate customers
about items that they may not know and to inform them of
special sales of flowers and plants. Displays can be created
around a variety of themes, including seasons, holidays, color,
decorating styles, etc. My ability to create effective displays
increases the sales and customer volume in the greenhouse
making me a more valuable employee. I have created displays
for fall, winter, spring, and summer plants. This has given me
great experience and has shown me that there are some items
that sell better in a certain area or at a certain price point.
Through creating displays I have learned a great deal about the
right way of doing sales. This has helped both me and my
employer.
Taking Orders
2. As our society becomes more mobile an increasingly larger
percentage of flower orders are accomplished over the
telephone and from others who request them for co-workers. I
need to know availability and cost of different types of flowers
and materials, not only in Kentucky but, all around the world. I
also need to communicate effectively the customer’s needs and
desires, so that what is sent and received is what was ordered.
The use of standard terminology and names is also necessary
to ensure a satisfied customer. Repeat customers are very
important to the long term survival of a greenhouse. We receive
some orders via e-mail and from the Internet so we have to be
ready with the description of the plants for people who are
unable to see the plants. Taking orders ensures the success of
the garden center.
Customer Relations
3. Providing the service a customer wants is what business is all
about. Effective communication skills are critical to the success
of a garden center. For example, the day before mother’s day
when there are a great number of people you have to listen to
everything that they want and give them the plants they want at
the price they can afford. This is the time of year when you
have to have the most patience with customers. We have lots
of customers who come to the business and not only are trying
to get a plant, but they are also seeking advice. You must be
willing to work with the customers to ensure they not only select
the right plant for them, but they know how to take care of the
plant after they leave your business. The customers are the
way you are able to stay in business and if I don’t do a good job
working with them the business will suffer and I will probably be
fired.
Flower and Plant care and maintenance
4. The longer you can keep flowers and plants in sellable
condition the better chance there is to sell them. Product loss is
a substantial problem in a greenhouse. Keeping flowers at their
proper temperature, humidity, pH, light levels, etc can mean the
difference between selling or throwing them away. I do flower
watering at the LCHS greenhouse and at Lee’s Garden Center.
Doing this job I must take care to ensure the longest life
possible for the flats, pots and hanging baskets. Landscaping
plants, on the other hand, while long lived, also have specific
needs so they remain sellable. I have been responsible for
watering, repotting, pruning, and pinching a variety of plants at
the LCHS greenhouse and at Lee’s Garden Center. It is
imperative that I be able to take care of the plants so that I can
be an effective employee and source information for customers.
Business Management
5. I have learned what it takes to run a greenhouse, garden center
or any business alone f or hours at a time. I am able to run the
business and deal with all types of customers, from those who
are very needy to those who know exactly what they want. I
inventory materials that come into the greenhouse as well as
check to make sure they are sellable. All the different things I
do show my supervisor that I am dependable and reliable and
that I will get the job done successfully. It has also given me the
opportunity to see, hands on and for myself, what it is like to be
responsible for the success of a business. Through
understanding the importance of managing a business in the
best possible way I make sure that we limit our losses and
maximize our profits. Business management is something that I
will be able to use throughout my entire life.
Safety
6. One of the first things I learned about in the Floriculture Industry
was the safety in the workplace. At the LCHS greenhouse and
at Lee’s Garden Center I was given an orientation on safety
and hazards, which included such things as poisonous
materials and plants, how to safely use equipment, and much
more. After the orientation and discussing things with my
supervisor I was able to run a safe and hazard free work area
and greenhouse. At school I spent time outside of class
maintaining the greenhouse and plants. This included the safe
use of pesticides and fertilizers, as well as, proper maintenance
of tools, equipment, and the facility itself. At the garden center I
not only have to worry about the sales area and the
greenhouse, but also the petting zoo because when you have
small children and animals you can have a recipe for disaster. I
must monitor these areas very closely.
*Additional Skills: Corsage Construction,
Wedding Flower Designs and Bridal Bouquets,
Cutting Flowers and Handling Potted Plants,
Creating Flower Displays
Food Science and Technology- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge
I can successfully complete an E-Coli test.
Contributions to Success
1. By doing these test we ensure that the carcass is free of
dangerous levels. These are done to carcasses every week
until we have completed thirteen tests. This is part of the new
science-based inspection.
I can understand a P.D.R (Product Deficiency
record)
2. These reports keep the other employees and me up to date
with any problems that an inspector might have with our
workplace or working process. The seriousness of the
deficiency is also listed to tell the level of concern.
I have become certified in H.A.C.C.P. (Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points)
3. H.A.C.C.P helps to recognize the critical control points that
could cause adulteration or contamination of the meat that
could lead to illness upon consumption. A.H.A.C.C.P plan must
be implemented into every small plant by Jan. 25, 2000. Each
plant must have at least one certified person. I am to be that
person at Wilson's Slaughterhouse.
Skills in reducing or eliminating bacteria.
4. Through my school lab, job placement, and through the
collecting of scientific data, I have learned ways of reducing
bacterial growth. I conducted three experiments: spraying the
carcass with 50ppm-chlorine solution, spraying with 200-degree
water and using a solution to lower the ph of the carcass. The
school lab and my job placement both started using a 50ppmchlorine solution.
I have gained knowledge in the use of modern
bacterial testing equipment.
5. Using a "Charm Lum-T" I can monitor sanitation levels in all
areas of plant. I have been asked by other plants to test their
levels of sanitation.
I developed skills in USDA's new mandatory
"O" tolerance level.
6. Effective control over sanitary dressing procedures presents a
challenge to both the butcher and inspector. Common kill floor
contaminants are feces, ingesta, urine, hide, and pus and
general filth. It is my responsibility to prevent this contamination
from happening.
Properly using and maintaining lab equipment
7. Correct lab techniques were necessary in the completion of the
experiment of my sophomore, junior, and senior when I worked
in the OSU meat and food science labs.
Sample collection
8. To have external validity the samples must be representative of
the population. For internal validity the variables must be
controlled, making sample collection a very important part of
every test.
Knowledge of the scientific method
9. Every research project requires that certain basic steps are
followed. For each project I have framed my decisions around
the scientific method.
Record keeping skills
10. I have used this skill in everything from managing my herd of
cattle, to measuring data obtained from my research, and even
completing application forms like this.
*Additional Skills: Use of Modern Technological
Equipment in Agricultural Processes,
Understanding Food Assembly Lines
Food Science and Technology- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge
Maple Syrup Production
Contributions to Success
1. Sugar Maple Trees (acer saocherum) are most commonly used
in maple syrup production. In order to tap a maple tree, a hole
must be drilled about 2 inches into the tree. A tube is then
inserted into the tree so that the sap can readily flow out of the
tree into a collection container. All collected sap from the 21
tapped Sugar Maple trees located on the State College Area
High School campus was evaporated in a furnace maple sap
evaporate (funded by INIE mini-grant). The sap was placed in
the collection pans and heated by a wood fire in the furnace
below. It takes 40-50 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of
syrup because of the sap’s 2-3% sugar concentration. Sap has
a boiling point close to water and when it begins to evaporate,
the sugar concentration and boiling point increase due to
colligative properties. Evaporation continues until a desirable
maple syrup consistency is obtained.
Safely and effectively packaging bulk foods
2. Upon employment at Way Fruit Farm, one of my main
responsibilities was to sort, package, and display bulk foods
purchased from Dutch Valley Food Distributors. The bulk food
ranged from snack mixes, baking supplies, and soup mixes to
dried fruit, candy, and nuts. Because the food products to be
bulked were so divers, knowledge of proper food safety, shelf
life, and storage was needed. The training I received included;
proper food handling with gloves, proper sanitation of food
scoop, proper packaging and sealing of different bulked
products, labeling of the products with included ingredients and
possible allergens, and proper retail display and shelf rotation
for best freshness of product. The packaging types included:
different sizes of plastic safety-tock containers and different
sizes of plastic bags for twist-tie sealing. Understanding the
best packaging techniques was vital for food safety and quality.
Presenting and being knowledgeable of
produce
3. Another main responsibility at Way Fruit Farm was to be
knowledgeable of the various produce that is grown at the farm
so that I could effectively display and market the produce to
consumers. Way Fruit Farm grows 21 varieties of apples, 7
varieties of peaches, 3 varieties of pears, 3 varieties of pears, 3
varieties of plums, as well as strawberries, blueberries, sweet
and tart cherries, apricots, pumpkins, and sweet corn. All of this
produce is displayed seasonally on the Farm’s Produce Island
in the center of the retail area. To properly work at the Produce
Island, I was trained to be knowledgeable of the apple varieties
and their characteristics, such as tartness, shelf life, baking
qualities, and consistency. The other produce items also had
characteristics that I needed to understand, such as corn
varieties and peach uses. All of this knowledge was a
necessary skill for displaying produce and assisting customers.
Using the Scientific method in project
development
4. When conducting a research project, the use of the scientific
method is vital in achieving desirable results. A proper scientific
method includes: problem identification, literature review,
hypothesis formation, experimentation and data collection, data
analysis and conclusions, and publication of results. For all my
research projects, the problem or idea was based in food
science and technology. With an idea in mind, I would then
conduct literature research, a skill that has greatly developed
through my SAE. With background information, I would then
make an educated hypothesis of the experiment’s outcome.
Methods would be developed and then executed in the
experiment trials and data would be collected. Finally, the data
would be analyzed, conclusions would be made, and the entire
project would be published, or presented, using presentation
skills that I’ve also gained throughout my SAE.
Conducting a proper sensory Triangle Taste
Test
5. A Triangle Taste Test is a type of sensory evaluation that limits
the participants’ senses to taste for proper data collection. For
my Oreo research project, I decided to test Sugar Free and
Regular Oreos to evaluate if participants could correctly tell the
taste difference between the two. In a proper triangle taste test,
samples of each Oreo were cut into quarters, placed in small
plastic cups and then assigned a number according to the type
of Oreo used. Each participant received three cups of Oreos,
two of the same product and one of the other. The cups acted
as a barrier to using sight because the two Oreo types had a
mild visual difference. Using the assigned numbers, the
participant was asked to specify, on a survey, which sampled
they thought was the odd sample.
Understanding and conducting proper
enzymatic browning treatments
6. Browning occurs in most produce and is usually a result of
enzymatic reactions. In apples, this enzyme is known as
polyphenotoxidase (PPO) and exists in the structure of an
apple along with phenolic compounds and oxygen atoms.
When an apple structure is broken, these items are released, a
complex reaction occurs, and eventually a compound known as
quinnone is created. When quinnones polymerize (accumulate),
they form melanoidin, a brown pigment that appears on the
apple’s flesh. Although melanoidin is not harmful, it is
unappealing to consumers, so methods for denaturing
(breaking apart) the PPO enzyme prevent melanoidin
formation. Low pH and high temperature are the two main
treatments for denaturing enzymes. Thus, lemon juice (citric
acid), Fruit Fresh (absorbic acid), and blanching (high heat)
denature the PPO enzymes and prevent browning.
*Additional Skills: Cell Culture and
Pasteurization, Genetic Engineering
Forage Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and knowledge
Machine Maintenance
Contributions to Success
1. I check oil on the tractors everyday and look at the tires to see if
they are low. If a wagon has a flat tire, I’ll put a new tube in it. If
I see the tire looks bad then I will put a new tire on too. If the
tractors need fuel I’ll fill them up. I change oil and grease
equipment when it is necessary. I fix machinery like put new
chains and sprockets in and replace worn out parts. I have to
make sure equipment is ready to work before going out into the
field and using it. I hook up the monitors for the big square baler
and chopper before we use them. With our big square baler I
have to put new balls of string in when they run out. I also have
to fill the tank up with hay preservative when that tank gets low.
We put all of our equipment in the shed over night and when it
isn’t being used. So before we put it away in the shed, I wash
the machinery off and make sure it’s clean and looks good. This
helps prevent break down and time that would be lost when
operating equipment.
Drying Hay
2. I pick up hay that is in a swat and feel the stem and leaves. I
usually do this after the dew is dried off in the morning. Then I
determine if the hay will be dry enough to bale. If I take the
stem and bend it and the stem cracks and breaks then it is dry
enough. If the stem doesn’t crack or break and bends back then
the hay is not dry enough. I usually try three or four stems on
the top, middle, and bottom of the swat. If the top of the hay
swat is dry and the bottom is still too wet, then I’ll rake the hay
so that the bottom gets dry enough. Then I let it dry for three to
four hours and come back and check it again. If I’m checking
the hay to see if it is right to chop for haylage, I don’t use the
same technique. It’s hard to explain because it takes
experience to get to know what it feels like. The hay can’t be
soaking wet but you don’t want it too dry either. I use this skill in
harvesting high quality hay so that it won’t spoil on me because
it wasn’t harvested at proper moisture levels.
Raking Hay
3. I use a hay rake to pick up the hay in a swat and roll it over so
the bottom is now on the top. This helps decrease the drying
time of hay. Right now I only have parallel bar rakes on my
farm. I have to set the height of the bars so that they pick up the
hay. Then when I get in the field I have to rake, I have to trip a
lever so that the rake goes in gear. The rake is run by ground
speed. So the faster I drive, the faster the bars move. When
raking I travel at a speed of about five miles per hour. If I would
drive any faster the rake wouldn’t flip the hay over right and the
hay wouldn’t dry as fast. I rake hay if the top of the swat of hay
is dry and the bottom is not. I try to do this as early in the
morning as I can. I have to wait for the dew to dry off the hay
first if there is some on. After that I get raking because the
sooner I get the hay raked, the less leave loss I have. Raking
hay decreases the amount of time it takes for hay to dry so I
can bale it sooner.
Cutting Hay
4. I cut hay with a 12 foot haybine. I have to watch for big stones
sticking up in the field. The main thing is I have to keep the
haybine cutting its maximum width but without leaving any hay
stand. If the hay is going to be baled, I lay the hay in a swat as
wide as the haybine will put in. If the hay is going to be chopped
I put it in a swat 2-3ft skinner than if it is going to be baled. This
is because hay takes a long time to dry for baling. I put it in a
swat as wide as I can so it dries faster. When the hay is going
to be chopped, it only has to dry down to 50-60 percent
moisture. I don’t want it any drier than 50 percent because then
it gets to be too dry for good haylage. This often takes only a
day so it doesn’t have to dry that fast. Also if the hay is too far
apart the pickup head on the chopper won’t get it all. Cutting
hay is an important skill in obtaining high yielding alfalfa. It can’t
be cut to high off the ground or you lose yields. If it is cut too
short than it will hurt the next crops’ yield.
Hauling and stacking square bales
5. I take a tractor with a loader and pallet fork to life bales off the
ground and put them on a wagon. First I flip the bale so that the
strings are on the side. This is so the pallet fork doesn’t bust
any strings because you have to go under the bale to pick it up.
Then after that I can pick up the bale, take it to the wagon, and
set it on there. We built a 9 foot by 18 foot flat rack for hauling
big square bales. We stack them 2 high on the wagon and the
wagon will hold 12 bales. After I get the bales hauled to our hay
shed, I can then unload and stack them. Our tractor and loader
can pick up 2 bales at a time so most of the time I will take 2 off
the wagon at a time. Then I drive in the shed and stack the
bales where then need to go. We put pallets on the gravel in
the shed so that the bottom bale doesn’t draw moisture up from
the gravel and spoil. Moving big square bales and getting them
stored is necessary so the weather doesn’t spoil the feed.
Changing the swather sickles
6. Changing sickles is an important part of maintaining the
swather. Without changing the sickles, it can cause problems,
such as skipping, uneven cutting, and loss of hay. Whether the
hay is alfalfa, brome, or prairie, dull sickle blades prevent the
machinery from cutting the hay cleanly. Changing the sickles is
a long and detailed process. There are seven steps included in
this process. The most important procedure is making sure the
sickles are tight and in line. If a sickle falls off, it will cause
damage to the entire sickle bar and guard. The damages can
include a bent sickle bar or a jammed header. If the sickles are
not properly aligned, it will cause the rest of the header to be
thrown out of align, resulting in larger damages. These
damages could cost the business lots of money proving it is
important to make sure the equipment is in proper running
condition.
*Additional Skills: Cultivating Corn, Merging
and Raking Hay, Hay Cutting, Forage Delivery
Forest Management and Products- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Marketing
Contributions to Success
1. Marketing through youth clubs in our community
not only helps my farm but other youth as well. I
have learned the valuable lesson of giving back to
communities if you want to be successful.
Strategic Planning
2. Learning to plan is very crucial to be successful in
any profession. I have to plan five years in advance
to have product available for harvest/sell
People skills
3. It is imperative to have good relationships with
vendors and customers. Learning to deal with
people and various personalities is very important
to future success.
Safety
4. Proper safety techniques and equipment is very
important to ensure employee and gust safety. I
also purchase additional insurance to cover guest
during “chose and cut” (harvest time).
Proper Planting
5. Digging the hole big enough not only allows for
better survival it also reduces the chance of Jrooting. The roots must be straight down and not
curved.
Basal Pruning
6. Basal pruning is very important early in the life of
the tree. This must be done to make the proper
handle for the Christmas tree base. Also, if not
done the lower branches will grow into the ground.
Budgeting/banking/record keeping
7. I have learned that I must keep good records to
properly track and forecast needs. I have to budget
carefully since I only have income once a year.
Pesticides/herbicides
8. Using correct pesticides and herbicides are critical.
Vines, weeds, and grasses are in competition if not
eliminated. Customers do not want trees with bugs
that hatch in their warm living rooms.
Shearing
9. Shaping Christmas trees must be done twice a
year throughout their life. Small trees must be
sheared tilted at an angle that achieves the desired
tree shape.
Applying colorant to trees.
10. The trees must be tinted green prior to harvest.
There are three shades of colorant I have
purchased and the darkest color sells best. People
are usually surprised to learn that trees are colored
green.
*Additional Skills: Lumber Drying Techniques, Limb and
Bucking Trees, Chainsaw Operation, Identifying Trees
Forest Management and Products- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Cutting Timber
Contributions to Success
1. Depending on the type of terrain you care cutting,
depends on the type of machine that needs to be used.
If you are cutting on a hill or a pine plantation you
would use a rubber tired machine. The rubber tires on
the machine makes cutting quicker and does not cause
as much damage to the soil. When cutting ponds,
swamps, or other wet areas, you should use a track
machine. The tracks on the machine allow it to stay on
top of the mud so that the timber can be harvested. It
is also very important that the cutter operator stays on
task and pays close attention to what he is doing so
that he does not cut over any boundary lines or
marked trees. If the cutter operator does not stay on
task and cuts over a boundary on someone else’s
property then the logging crew could be forced to pay
for the damage or even be sued.
Skidding Wood
2. Skidding the wood has to be done quickly in order for
the loader operator to stay busy. Depending on how far
the wood has to be skidded depends on how much
wood will be moved that particular day. Once the wood
is skidded up to the loader ramp it then has to be in
order according to size, length, and type. This helps
the loader operator to have easy access to the wood in
order to sort through it. It is also important that the
skidder operator keeps the wood separated so that the
operator does not spend all his time sorting through it.
Before the wood is skidded up to the loader ramp, it is
important that he backs each load into a bar cage so
that the load is de-limbed. Delimbing the load allows
the loader operator to handle and load it faster and
neater.
Removing Tree Limbs
3. On occasions, tree limbs must be removed with a
chainsaw. Before using a chainsaw, I check the
sharpness of the chain, gas/oil levels, and chain
tension. I also wear protective goggles, gloves, and ear
protection. Before operating the saw, I evaluate the
limbs to be cut and notice if pressure is being applied
to the limbs. After removing the limbs, I turn off the
chainsaw and place it in a safe location. Then I remove
the limbs from the site. This skill has benefitted my
SAE project by allowing me to learn basic mechanical
principles related to chainsaw operation and safety.
Loading with a Prentice Loader
4. Loading wood is done in our operation with a Prentice
Loader. When loading wood on the trailers, we must
make sure that it is straight and the weight is well
balanced so that I can be safely hauled to the mill.
Also, when loading wood, the loader operator has to
be very careful not to overload the trailer. The loader
operator has a huge responsibility. If the operator
overloads the trailer or loads a couple of bad trees with
cancer spots and cankers then the load is
automatically turned around. This causes the truck
driver and the whole logging crew to lose time and
money. Also a huge part of loading wood is having the
wood separated so that none of the wood gets mixed
up and is loaded on the wrong load. If one bad tree is
loaded and sent to the mill, when checked at the scale
house, it can be turned around and sent back to the
woods. This incident will cause the logging company to
lose time and money.
Equipment Maintenance
5. Equipment maintenance is a necessity when logging
so the operation is steady flowing. When times are
tough, like they are now, the logging industry
companies cannot afford to lose time because
something is broken down. In our logging business we
keep all parts stocked in our shop to insure that we
keep steady year round. When a piece of machinery
breaks down we can usually fix it in the woods, with
the help of a fully equipped truck. If there is a major
problem is too big for our two mechanics to handle we
have a back up machine that comes in and takes the
place of the broken down one until it is repaired.
Identifying Trees
6. Over the course of the years, I have become very
proficient at identifying trees. In fact, to do so is a
necessity. There are different markets for different
species of trees. If a company such as Weyerhaeuser
will pay $40/ton for quality hardwoods such as Red
Oak and only $16 for pulpwood (various species not
suitable for quality lumber), then I need know my tree
I.D, regardless of the season. This kind of knowledge
is important not only for Bradford Logging Service, but
the landowner too. Another reason for knowing proper
tree I.D. is for doing a selective cut. If a landowner
wants all of his trees cut except for one species, you
must know what it is. Proper tree identification can help
you bid a job. It can also help in replenishing the land.
By leaving certain specie after a select cut it will allow
that specie to repopulate the harvested area.
Therefore creating an ecologically balanced habitat
and environment.
*Additional Skills: Tree Planting, Pruning and Shearing
Techniques, Soil Nutrient Management, Insect/Pest
Management
Fruit Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Proper Operation of Spray Equipment
Contributions to Success
1. The orchard sprayers the farm uses each hold five
hundred gallons of solution. Depending on the size of
the nozzles and the rate of application, each tanks
covers between three to five acres of trees. In a long,
trouble-free day of spraying a person can spray eight
or nine tanks. Care must be given to keep records of
where and when spray is applied. These records are
always subject to inspection by the Department of
Agriculture. The watermelon crop generally requires
four to five spray applications of insecticide and
fungicide each year. The farm usually sprays melons
with a sprayer that has a forty-two foot wide boom. The
melon rows are planted twelve feet apart, so early in
development many nozzles must be closed off to
prevent waste of the spray solution. Later on in the
season more and more nozzles are opened up as the
vines spread out.
Irrigation Management
2. When the farm decided to drill two wells and install an
irrigation system for the largest orchard, I gained a
wealth of experience and knowledge that will be
valuable for many years to come. I was able to assist
with the installation, so I know how the system is set
up both below and above ground. I have learned how
to service the pump filters and how to run all the
controls and read the water-flow meters. I also
understand the valve system that allows us to pump
water to various blocks of trees depending upon what
stage of ripening they are in. There are 27 miles of
above- ground drip lines that have to be checked
maintained. One problem with drip lines is rodent will
chew into lines to get to the water during hot summer
months, which can lead to time-consuming repairs.
Seedbed Preparation/Planting/Maintenance
3. When I first started working in the watermelons, I
helped with planting. My job was to ride on the one-row
planter and put in seed and make sure the planter was
operating correctly. Now, I run several of the row
preparation tools as well as the planter when needed.
A lister is used to lay off rows that are 12 feet apart.
Fertilizer is then placed directly over the row and a 5
foot tiller is used to work it in and prepare a seed bed.
Melons are planted in very wide rows because of their
growth pattern, so a lot of tillage is necessary in the
middles for weed control. There are several tools used
for this job depending on the conditions. Damp, cool
weather in the spring can cause many disease
problems that can kill the crop very quickly or greatly
reduce yield potential if not sprayed with pesticides
promptly. Some insects, such as squash bugs, can
also quickly kill a plant.
Ripe Fruit Selection
4. Watermelons are one of the hardest crops to harvest
on the farm. The farm normally plants 10 different
varieties, and each variety has its own tell-tale signs of
maturity. Each melon must be judge on its shape,
coloring, and size. “Thumping” a melon, while it is a
common technique, must be done with a skilled ear as
each variety sounds differently at different stages of
maturity. Even the most experienced picker must
spend time scouting and cutting melons and
comparing outward visual cues with the actual
ripeness inside before heading to the field with a crew.
The importance of different cues also changes
depending on what stage of harvest the melons are in.
Melons are more difficult to pick when just the first few
are ripening, so I must rely on several cues. Later in
harvest, I can switch relying more on simpler cues. I
must also check for defects in the melons that might
signal disease. I know this is a skill that must be
perfected over many years.
Maintaining Equipment
5. Any time a person is working with equipment there are
many different things that must be checked before and
after use. I have learned how to service all the orchard
and fruit tractors and the equipment. There are 7
different tractors used in this part of the operation. The
tree sprayers have their own unique service
requirements. For instance, whenever they are used in
the winter, there are 5 different drain plugs that must
be opened to prevent freeze damage after use.
Nozzles have to be cleaned regularly and sometimes
have to be cleaned several times a day when spraying,
depending on the chemicals being used. Spray tractors
also need to be equipped with carbon filters that
enhance safety for the drivers. When the farm decided
to purchase a new spray tractor for next year, I was
asked to help make the decision on what was
purchased since I spend so much time in those
tractors.
Disease and Pest Management
6. In Oklahoma there are many different disease and pest
problems to watch for in fruit crops. Insects and
disease can cause blemishes that can completely ruin
the crop or at least damage it enough that it is not
marketable. One problem is in peach trees is bacterial
spot. This disease causes the leaves to turn yellow
and drop from the tree. A tree requires 70-80 leaves
for each peach it is trying to produce in order to have a
good crop. If there are too many sick leaves, the fruit
will not mature correctly and will have an ugly spotting
on the skin. Melons are also susceptible to many leaf
diseases and must be aggressively sprayed to ensure
the maximum yield. I have learned to recognize the
most common problems and how to fix them. Many
times I will look for problems while I am doing another
job. For instance, during tillage in the melons or
mowing trees, if a problem is noticed it must be dealt
with very quickly.
*Additional Skills: Harvesting Various Fruits, Forklift
Operation, Sprayer Operation, Packaging Fruit Products
Grain Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Annual Soil Testing
Contributions to Success
1. Allows for proper nutrient input applications to meet
production goals and insure profitability and increase
productivity of the operation. Reduces the use of
unnecessary inputs that decrease profitability.
Chemical Application
2. Reduces the incidence of weeds that can rob moisture
and adversely affect the yield potential of the grain
crop. Also saves on tillage costs by decreasing number
of passes for weed control.
Improved PVP Seed Varieties
3. Incorporation of the latest seed varieties have
increased both grain yield and forage yield from the
grain crop planted. This has generated additional
revenue from the operation for expansion.
Computer Generated Records
4. Supplies the necessary information for making sound
production decisions in regards to marketing, input
requirements, and revenue protection options.
Modern Large Machinery
5. This has reduced input costs through efficiency as
newer machinery in more fuel efficient than older
machines. Use of GPS is essential for precision
practices in grain production.
On Farm Storage Facilities
6. Decreases costs associated with holding a crop for a
sale at a later date. This has also resulted in increased
revenues and profitability for the SAE program.
Operation of Large Agriculture Machinery
7. Proper equipment operation allows you to efficiently
harvest, plant, and perform a large number of tillage
practices necessary to grain production in a safe and
acceptable manner.
FSA Farming Compliance
8. This allows you to receive governmental subsidies and
disaster protection on the operation. It also allows for
financing options if so deemed necessary in the future.
Upkeep of Terraces and Waterways
9. Reduces loss of top soil due to erosion and increase
productivity of the land in the operation. This also
improves relations between landlord and tenant in
grain production.
Implementation of the Internet
10. Allowing you to obtain market quotes, marketing
information, and research of the latest seed varieties to
increase production therefore resulting in increased
profitability to the operation.
*Additional Skills: Harvesting Grain, Storing Grain,
Monitoring Irrigation Systems
Grain Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Obtaining Soil Samples
Contributions to Success
1. Soil nutrient management needs attention each year.
By taking soil samples each year, I am able to keep
records of pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
By keeping records of these levels, I am able to
calculate the amount of fertilizer and lime to apply to
our acres. Soil samples are taken randomly throughout
our fields to get a representative sample of the whole
field. After I get a sample, I put it in a bucket that I have
cleaned, and I mix it by hand to distribute all the soil
particles together. One pint is placed in a bag then
sent to our Blaine County Extension Office for a soil
lab to analyze. Knowing the pH of the soil in my field,
helps me to decide which variety of wheat to use.
Different varieties of wheat will excel in low or high pH
soil.
Marketing decisions and programs
2. Marketing decisions are essential to the profit we make
on our wheat crop each year. I help with the marketing
of wheat on our family farm. I check the market on the
Internet or at our local elevator each day to see how
much the wheat price has increased or decreased. I
can make more profit on our wheat because I can
make quick decisions if the wheat price drops or goes
up. Last year our farm contracted the 2008 wheat crop
before harvest because the price of wheat was over
eleven dollars a bushel. By contracting the wheat, this
enabled us to make a huge profit on our wheat crop.
Another consideration when marketing the wheat crop
is the storage expense that is charged at the local
elevator. Waiting to sell the wheat crop later in the fall
or maybe into the next year will allow the wheat price
to increase, but the storage starts on July 15th at my
local elevator.
Machinery Maintenance
3. On our farm, safety is a very important. As an
employee, I check equipment every time before I first
use it. By checking the equipment every time I use it, I
have saved a number of breakdowns. I check to make
sure that all oils are at the proper running levels and
also check the water level so that the equipment will
not over heat. Checking the equipment will help in
maintaining reliable and dependable equipment. I also
properly grease the machinery when needed and clean
out any dirty air filters, which helps make the
equipment run smoother and cleaner. I grease the
combine every morning before use and check for
damaged or worn parts. This saves us money and time
for not having to stop and fix broken down machinery.
Applying these maintenance programs, I have greatly
extended the life of our machinery, and this helps
tremendously by not having to buy new equipment as
often.
Scouting Wheat Fields
4. Scouting our wheat fields during the growing season is
very important. Early in the season, I check the
germination rates of our wheat seed to see if we need
to replant. Early in the spring, I inspect the wheat for
troublesome weeds. Keeping the weeds out of the field
allows the wheat to utilize the available moisture.
During routine checks, it is important to check for
insect and disease damage. This damage will reduce
the yield and profit so it is crucial to control pests. If I
see that there are too many green bugs or army
worms, I will need to apply insecticides to control them.
Likewise if there is too much powdery milder or leaf
rust, a fungicide application will be necessary. I will
report any problems to my father so that we can take
care of them problem immediately.
Varieties Selection
5. Selecting correct varieties for our area greatly increase
our profit margin. At Brewer Farms every year, we go
and look at the local wheat plots. Around the first of
November, we check the county’s wheat plot to see
which variety has the best looking forage capabilities.
By checking this, we see which variety will give us the
most profit whenever we pasture our wheat in the fall.
When it is time to cut wheat down for hay, we go and
look at the test plot to see which variety has the
biggest leaves and will produce the most hay per acre.
After the wheat test plots have been harvested,
Oklahoma State University will print out the test results
and send them to the County Extension Office. I
usually go pick a sheet up at the county office and look
to see which variety has the best test weight and yield.
Picking a variety that high yield results will be
beneficial to my program.
Storage of Seed Wheat
6. At Brewer Farms, we clean our seed wheat bins every
year before harvest to remove any old seed wheat
leftover from last year’s crop that I have stored. In
cleaning the wheat bins each year, I hope to keep the
seed from any cross contamination from the previous
variety. This is a very dusty job, and I wear dust masks
to protect myself. Cleaning the wheat bins is a very
time consuming job. After the grain bin is clean, I spray
the grain bin to kill any kind of bugs or worms that
might be living in the cracks. I also check around the
bottom of the grain bins for any holes or leaks that
might spoil the wheat that is being stored. Each year I
tar around the bottom of the bins just in case I did not
see a hole and to keep water and bugs out. During the
summer months, the wheat that is stored is cleaned of
any wheat heads, chaff, and foreign material. The
wheat is now ready to sow.
*Additional Skills: Harvesting Grain, Cultivating Corn, Soil
Nutrient Management, Scouting Fields
Home and/or Community Development
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Grant writing and fund raising
Contributions to Success
1. Obtaining funds for larger service projects involves writing grants
to local and national foundations. I complete the applications
detailing the service activity, projected budget, number of volunteer
hours needed, and how funds will be secured over and above the
grant amount. Our local grants have deadlines like all others and I
have learned the importance of submitting them in a timely fashion.
I have submitted ten applications and received six: $2000 from
nation and $9000 from local grants. While this money was
important, it was not enough to conduct all activities. I received
donations from individuals and civic organizations. Detailing
information for grants and finding a professional, courteous way to
ask for donations from others is something that is not always a
positive experience. I have learned that persistence and feedback
are valuable; something I will continue to use in the future.
Videography
2. One sixty second video takes extensive planning in order to
produce a quality product. The first step is to obtain a quality video
camera that produces a movie to be burned on cd. Second step,
create a story board diagram of the “movie”. This story board
begins as a simple outline them morphs into a fleshed-out, wordfor-word script complete with actions and props. Next, the “stage”
is set and practice begins. Sixty seconds required eight attempts
before the initial “movie” was pronounced good enough to watch;
the dialog was stilted and the picture bounced up and down. Four
tries later and the “movie” was ready for production. That first food
drive video was watched by more than 350 FFA members at TX
State, area, and district leadership camps. It generated awareness
of the need for service in host communities and asked member s to
donate food or money to the project.
Public Speaking
3. My initial speaking experience was to announce the results of the
first Texas FFA State-wide Food Drive during convention the
summer before I started high school. I was scared to death! I had
never had to speak before even one person; now there were nine
thousand in front of me. Muddling through that first experience
made me realize that making an impact required practice and
power of expression. I developed an information program for
organizations, school board, FFA chapters, and area food bank
conferences. One of the hardest things I did was to speak before
my peers and ask for help with the Adopt-a-Child program. This
resulted in donations for 326 children. Skills in public speaking led
to 6 state speaking competitions, 6 FFA officer positions, and 8
officer positions in other organizations. Last year, I calmly
announced the results for the 4th State-wide Food Drive before
11,000 people!!
Organizing Volunteers for Community Service
Projects
4. Successful service projects require help from volunteers. I have
been blessed to have had parents, peers, and community
members who are willing to donate their time to help with projects I
have undertaken. Contacting volunteers via email is very
convenient for most people. This provides both parties with a
record of the date, time, and description of their responsibility. For
each project, I compile a list of items, work schedule, and
responsibilities. I begin contacting people with information four to
six weeks in advance. If they reply in the affirmative, I am set. If
they reply in the negative, I offer them an alternate responsibility
and/or time. I have learned to negotiate and compromise on this
issue. During my last service activity, I scheduled 32 volunteers
who worked 164 volunteer hours and donated food, drinks, and
entertainment for the project’s success.
Utilizing Software and Print Techniques to
Generate Materials for Community Service
Activities
5. I learned how to create advertisement brochures, flyers, and
articles using Publisher software. Brochures were created to
explain the aspects of our community food bank to hand out to
clients, civic groups, and at our annual area-wide community food
bank conference. I design flyers to display around town and write
news releases for our local and area newspapers. Last year, flyers
and articles for the food drive competition that our chapter
sponsors between Weimar and a neighboring town generated over
72,000 lbs. of food donated from the Weimar community. I
organized digital images in a coherent sequence to show service
project impacts on members and recipients. I have created a
database of people who have donated items or time in order to
keep a record of these volunteers. I have a column which can be
checked as I send out thank you cards.
Time Management
6. This skill was one that I had to tackle and secure quickly due to the
high volume of activities that I am presently involved in. There are
so many worthwhile programs which provide me an opportunity to
help others. Only through careful planning and management of my
time am I able to be of assistance to those programs which I have
committed myself to. Balancing school, family, production SAE’s,
sports, part-time employment and community service has been
tricky at times. Scheduling my time wisely has allowed me to help
so many people and has been richly rewarding.
*Additional Skills: Fire-fighting Training,
Construction Management, Communities
Events, Community Projects
Landscape Management- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Pruning
Contributions to Success
1. Pruning is one the most horticulturally sound procedures that we
use in maintaining our landscapes. We have contracts with several
banks and businesses to be their complete landscaping crew. This
contract requires us to maintain regular fertilization and pruning
schedules and to replace plants as they die or get out of form.
When I prune a plant, I take special care in maintaining the natural
shape of the plant. I do not just cut the longest stems. I remove
stems that are dead, limbs that are crossing and rubbing on each
other, water sprouts that are growing straight up, and any other
limb or stem that clutters the center of the plant keeping it from
maintaining a beautiful natural form. I feel that pruning is one of the
most important steps we do to maintain a landscape because it
helps us preserve our design and limit the need for replanting.
Landscape Design
2. Landscape design has been one of the most difficult skills that I
have developed while working for my father. Because of the
tremendous amount of knowledge that is required and the
tremendous amount of precision that is required to make a
landscape work and be functional for our customers. I knew when I
started working for my father that I was going to need to start doing
some design work on my own. I started watching my father and
asking him questions so that I understood why he was using plants
in a particular location and to figure out the range of plants we tend
to use to make our landscapes work. Once I had established a
working knowledge of common plants, my father started allowing
me to make some design decisions and he taught me how to start
applying the principles of good landscape design to our creations. I
now design a large number of our landscapes for my father.
Site Preparation
3. Sit preparation is one of the most enjoyable parts of landscaping
for me. I enjoy taking a raw, rough, poorly designed or used space
and creating an enjoyable environment for a customer. To prepare
a site you must be confident in running equipment and prepared to
physically work to get the topography ready for planting. In
preparing a site for planting, there are several steps to make sure
that the area is perfect for planting. Before you can plant an area
you must first grade the site to a workable level, then you must
layoff your bedding or mulch areas, then you either bring in soil or
condition the present soil, you are then ready to consider planting
or installing other features such as irrigation and lighting. I have
found that is you take extra time in preparing the sire for planting,
then the resulting landscape is more likely to be successful and the
plants are more likely to survive.
Customer Service
4. To be valued employee for Moore’s Landscaping, my father
needed me to be able to answer customer questions without
always relying on him for support. It was important to me to lean
the art of working with customers so that they feel comfortable
when we are at their site and feel that they have made a wise
buying decision. In working on my customer relation skills I became
more conversational with customers, better at answering
questions, and more reliable when asked about plant selection.
The way you handle customers directly relates to the way that
customers view your business and can be the determining factor
the next time that a customer is thinking of a company to use for
their landscape needs. At Moore Landscaping, we put a lot of
emphasis on helping the customer make the best decision based
upon their needs and wants.
Equipment Maintenance
5. Maintaining the equipment that we use is a daily process, but we
spend extra time cleaning and maintaining when the work slows
down during the winter, colder month. Daily, we clean, grease,
check oil levels, sharpen, and fix the equipment that we use on a
daily basis. At the end of every working day it is my duty to check
all of the equipment to make sure that it is ready to go for the next
days of work. My dad has instilled in me the necessity to invest in
good equipment and then take care of that equipment so that it can
take care of you. From this guidance I have found that if we do
daily checks on our equipment then it lasts longer and it is ready to
go when we start a job the next morning. Though at times I am
forced to work late into the evening fixing broken equipment or
maintaining equipment, it is well worth it to get up the next day and
be immediately productive.
Hardscape and Retaining Wall Construction
6. One of the most favorite skills that I have developed is the ability to
design and install hardscapes and retaining walls. I enjoy this part
of my job very much because when you are working on a project,
you can immediately see some enjoyment from a job well-done. In
planting a landscape, sometimes you must wait years to see the
mature project, in developing hardscaped, you can see it grow and
develop immediately. Building retaining walls has become a major
service that we offer, and I have learned a lot about the grading
and construction required to build a stable, functional wall. You
must first start with a well dug footer, followed by level and plumb
construction, finished with backfilling, grading, and seeding. This is
a lengthy process because most of the walls and hardscapes that
we construct are out of heavy or expensive materials that force you
to take your time and be precise.
*Additional Skills: Operating Mowers;
Trimmers, Tractors, other Power Landscape
Machinery, Planting Trees and Shrubbery,
Installing Sprinklers
Nursery Operations- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Cutting and Root Division Timing
Contributions to Success
1. Ensure a healthy start plant that should grow to be a strong and
vigorous four inch potted plant ready to be sold and transplanted.
Soaking, Disinfecting, and stratifying seeds
2. Prevents seed diseases and helps break down the outside shell of
the harder seeds for better germination and faster crop finish time.
Variety Selection
3. Ensure that my customers will always receive a plant that will
produce and grow will in our climate.
Utilization of Germination Chamber
4. Increase germination of hard to sprout seeds, improves
germination percentage and helps keep seed cost down.
Greenhouse Systems Operations
5. Insure proper plant growth and insure strong healthy durable plants
for my customers to purchase.
Diseases and Insect Identification
6. Identifying problems early maintains a healthier growing plant and
eliminates passing the problem on to your customer.
Inventory Control
7. Makes me a reliable source of plants and herbs for my customers,
a satisfied customer will tell someone else, increasing my customer
base.
Displays/marketing
8. If customers can see the large selection of high quality plants and
herbs it increases chances of making a sale.
Salesmanship
9. Helps me inform my customers of plants and herbs available to
and how to properly care for them as well as the different ways
they can be used.
Record keeping
10. Record keeping has a wide variety of benefits include tracking
income and expense tracking varieties that sell or not, keeping a
customer lists as well as a record of sprays used.
*Additional Skills: Using Hothouses and
Warming Lights, Knowledge of Various Plants,
Propagation of Plants, Filtration Systems
Nursery Operations-Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Labeling and Organizing Plants in a
Greenhouse
Contributions to Success
1. Every plant that is transplanted requires identification tags. These
tags allow for efficient organization in order to utilize our
greenhouse to its maximum potential. These tags are also
important for the fact that the customer can use them to I.D. plants
and read important information. I tag each plant in the greenhouse
with the proper identification, this is a long process seeing as there
is upwards of 500 varieties to tag. If the plants are not tagged
correctly, customers will read the wrong information, which could
cause them to harm the plant, and cause the customer frustration.
Another negative effect of not tagging is the fact that plants are
easily confused during moving, this results in multicolored trays of
flowers. This skill of organization can be carried into many other
areas of my work, school, and life.
Properly Mixing Fertilizer for Specific Plants
2. I learned how to make fertilizer mixtures for specific crops. Some of
the different crops consist of poinsettias, mums, perennials, Easter
lilies, and other annuals. I measure chemicals and fertilizers into a
five-gallon bucket, this fed into the water lines by means of a dose
meter. Fertilizer is a very touchy chemical, and can boost a plant or
kill it. When mixed correctly the fertilizer grows more lush plants,
and also a larger crop of vegetables and flowers. When mixed
incorrectly, it can burn plant roots or even kill it completely.
Precision and accuracy in measuring is a very important part of
mixing fertilizer, and cannot be taken lightly. I plan to obtain my
pesticide applicators permit. When the boss is away, it is important
to have someone who is able to mix the fertilizer, which is why I
thought this was a very necessary skill for me to learn.
Greenhouse Construction Skills
3. I learned how to put up 100’ X 30’ growing greenhouses and how
to cover them with plastic. We had to cement the support into the
ground, and build the frame. We covered the greenhouse with a
thick plastic to insulate the greenhouses. Growing greenhouses are
very important to Millhome Nursery, because of our limited space.
These houses are quite moveable if needed, also you can design
the greenhouse to any length in order to meet space requirements.
This will be a very important skill for the fact that if a greenhouse
breaks I can visualize where the problem is, and fix it as quickly as
possible. Also I will be able to build more growing greenhouses in
the future as we expand our business.
Operating a Utility Tractor
Recognizing Disease and Pests on Plants
4. I use these tractors for many reasons, such as hauling plants,
loading mulches and soils into trucks, and hauling compost and
soils. I learned to dive the tractors, and now I am comfortable
operating these pieces of equipment. In the past, landscapers were
the only ones who knew how to operate the tractors, and how to
load mulch safely so not to damage vehicles. Therefore when a
customer comes for mulch or soil, we had to call a landscaper of
the job site to come and load it. This became very inefficient
practice in more than one way. We recently purchased the second
tractor, and I am already comfortable using it, now we can have
one at the landscape sites and one back at the greenhouses. By
learning this skill, the business saves money and the landscapers
can focus more on their own work.
5. I learned from books how to recognize certain diseases and
insects, and properly identify them. If I find diseases or insects
while working, I can notify someone with the knowledge of how to
treat the pest or disease. Some diseases and pests include leaf
rust, root rot, over or under exposure to sun, whiteflies, aphids, tent
caterpillars, and mealy bugs. Also by finding these problems before
they spread, we can also isolate and dispose of the infected plants.
In the long run this will save us money, because we aren’t throwing
away a whole crop of tomatoes with whiteflies for example.
Customer Communications
*Additional Skills: Hothouse and Warming Light
Use, Knowledge of Various Plants, Growing
Plants, Filtration Systems
6. I answer phone calls at the nursery, and take very detailed
messages so that there is no confusion between the customer and
the business. I take plant orders, landscape messages, and I also
answer any questions that I can with my own knowledge. This skill
is important so that employees can have all the information they
need to seek out answers to questions, or find a plant in timely
manner and return the call. This skill will carry over into my daily
lifestyle at home and at school.
Outdoor Recreation- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Food Plot Establishment
Contributions to Success
1. I use Corn, Milo, different Clovers, Millet, Brasiccas, Turnips and
Chicory. These plans are preferred by wildlife in my area and offer
excellent forage, so I monitor soil pH and fertility prior to planting.
Marsh Construction
2. I created a duck marsh on a managed property. After creating the
drainage system I planted Japanese millet to attract ducks and
geese. I plan to build a second marsh for this client in 2010.
Deer/Turkey Feeder Construction
3. Building deer feeders is cheaper and they will last longer than most
purchased products. Most of my customers like metal feeders
because they survive the flooding that occurs in our area better.
Customer and Liability Agreements
4. I sign written contracts with each of the property owners I work with
to ensure both parties are aware of expectations. I also require
hunting clients to sign liability waivers.
Game Camera Use
5. Gamer Camera photos are one my main scouting tools. I use this to
report to hunters about wildlife in the area. Some of my photos are
in the newspaper’s outdoor section and help attract customers.
Wildlife Instinct Knowledge
6. Knowing about how deer act before cold fronts or after and how
geese feed during differing weather conditions increases client
success rates. Different stand are used based on weather patterns.
Website Management
7. www.twinbroshunting.com is the website I use for my business.
Next to word of mouth I have found that a website is the best way to
attract new clients into my outdoor recreation business.
Wildlife Scouting
8. I frequently field phone calls during hunting seasons about game
activity in the area. It is important to give accurate and detailed
information to individuals that can be used to increase hunter’s
success rates.
Field Dressing Game
9. Knowing how to field dress game is important in a guiding service.
Many hunters do not want to clean the animals they harvested. This
is another way to establish a positive relationship.
Property Management
10. A properly managed property will have stand placed in good
locations with proper shooting lanes. Feeders are placed to attract
game and cameras are installed to monitor wildlife behavior and
activity.
*Additional Skills: Catching and Releasing
Game, Creating Fencing and Barriers, Working
Trout Fishery, Pond Management
Outdoor Recreation- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Proper Feeding and Maintenance for Health
Contributions to Success
1. Feeding and maintenance is the one skill that you use most often
on a pheasant farm. Sometimes it’s almost a science trying to
figure out how many inches of feed each bird lot needs. You do this
every few days in the fall of the year but earlier in the year we do it
more often because there are more birds in the pens. We use a
feed truck to do all of our feeding. Our feed includes nutrients
needed for the hens to lay hard shell eggs and tor fast and healthy
growth by the chicks. We use a starter pellet with the birds until
they are about three weeks old then switch them to feed that
include cracked corn and grass seed. Introducing them to grass
seed helps them learn to eat seed they will find when released and
helps them maintain a proper diet throughout their lifespan. A good
ration helps the males who will be released to grow longer feathers
and have a better chance of survival.
Properly Catching Birds for Release, Sell, or
Butcher
2. This skill takes some practice to do it right without injuring the bird
or the tail feathers. We use a special net that looks like a fishing
net to catch the birds. We do this every time we need to release
birds for our hunters or to move specific birds to specific pens. It is
important to be safe and not cause undue stress to the bird while
performing this task. I will try to do so by taking birds from the rear
of the pen so as the others will not all spook and begin flying
around and hitting poles and nets causing injury and sometimes
death. This is a task that generally is best if performed by one
person in each pen. Most birds have been separated by sex at
hatching so this usually speeds up the process of catching specific
birds. When birds are needed for hunting, we release roosters;
while most of the birds the farmers want are females in hopes of
hatching more birds on their farms.
Putting Blinders on Birds
3. Putting blinders on birds is real important skill. The blinders have to
be used for safety reasons. The birds would peck themselves or
each other to death without the blinders because of the close
quarters. There isn’t much to putting blinders on besides catching
the birds and snapping the blinders shut. When birds are released
we will remove the blinders so that they can perform in nature the
way that is most natural to them. We do not clip beaks the way
some domestic pheasant producers do because this would not
allow them to be released in the wild and find food for themselves.
By using the blinders, we have reduced the number of injuries and
deaths to our birds and this then increases the profits of our
business.
Fencing Wildlife Barriers
4. I fenced off barriers leaving thirty to one hundred and fifty yards
along the river so that wildlife can move through the area as they
please. I decided to put in two strand electric fence because it is
wildlife friendly. The reason this is wildlife friendly is that smaller
animals can go underneath it and larger animals can go through it
without injuring themselves. I also put gates in that had a maximum
spacing of one hundred yards between them. I left the gates open
when they weren’t in use for livestock so that deer could easily
pass through them. With the land that is farmed next to the
grasslands we will also leave corn rows in and plant food plots next
to all the shelterbelts each spring with corn, sorghum, millet and
sunflowers.
Park and Land Management
5. A major part of working on the lake is the park management. Many
problems arise everyday such as repairing warning signs, and
maintenance of campgrounds and boat docks. Placing water buoys
in several parts of the lake marks swallow areas and no wake
zones for boating protection. It also protects swimmers, jet skiers,
and any type of watercraft that may be on the lake. Road signs
posting a 25mph speed limit are there for the protection of tourists
visiting the park because of the abundance of wildlife found around
the lake area. Unfortunately, some campers like to destruct public
facilities, spray paint permananent markers and deface the
property. Campground maintenance requires continual cleaning
from the campers and debris from natural sources. The park has
two floating boat docks as well as three boat ramps. Each dock has
warning signs, a protective railing, and a buoy system that must be
checked weekly.
Leadership and Communication Skills
6. Working at the park has helped improve my people skills. I have
learned how to communicate in several different circumstances,
and gained knowledge on problem solving skills. Having the
opportunity to work with different law enforcement officials has
helped me learn how to assess situations and people. Being in a
leadership role in FFA has taught me how to lead by example. So
by working at the lake, I know if I want the campers to abide by the
law, I should do everything right too. With this job I get to deal with
a variety of people, most good but some not so good. Most that
come to the lake are easy going and enjoying time with their
families. They are fun to deal with, likeable and everyday working
people. Then you have the other side of the coin, people who are
overly intoxicated and unpredictable. They like to get loud and
crazy, which is no fun to deal with and is potentially dangerous.
*Additional Skills: Catching and Releasing
Game, Managing Wildlife Populations, Fishery
and Pond Maintenance, Managing Game
Populations
Poultry Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Time management
Contributions to Success
1. This is very critical in the chicken business. I have to be on a
time schedule. I have to be there seven days a week and
accessible twenty-four hours a day.
Business Management
2. In the poultry business I will have good weeks and bad weeks,
so I have to save money during the good in order to have funds
when things are less favorable.
Public relations
3. I have met many new people in the chicken industry. I have to
learn to get along with the company employees such as service
men and truck drivers.
Safety
4. Safety is a great concern on any farm, especially when I am
undergoing the clean out process in the house. I will operate
machinery that can be fatal such as tractors, so I strive to keep
my farm hazard free.
Water Management
5. Water management is a great concern during the summer time.
I keep a check on all the water that goes throughout the house.
Some of these units include cool cells, drinkers, and cooling
units.
Power Management
6. In the summer time I will usually have an excessive power bill,
which is from ventilation. In this process I pull air from the cool
cells to mix with the warm air that’s created in the house. I must
work to do this
Farm Appearance
7. I always try to keep my farm as clean as possible because
everyone always makes a first impression. The quality of my
product depends on this.
Machinery repair and maintenance
8. Being able to repair the equipment myself will lower the cost
and prevent down time. Proper operating and periodic checks
will prolong the equipment life. I repair feed lines, drinkers, egg
belts and control.
Computer record keeping
9. I have been able to save time and keeping accurate records by
using the computer.
Feed management
10. By keeping good records concerning the feed I will; keep the
chickens’ accurate weight, causing them to produce more eggs
and saving the grower more money.
*Additional Skills: Cleaning Chicken Houses,
Hatching Baby Chicks, Animal Husbandry,
Butchering Abilities, Feed Mixing
Poultry Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Cleaning the Chicken Houses
Contributions to Success
1. Cleaning the houses has helped me to learn how to work hard, and
what work really goes into an enterprise. It is a smelly, dirty job.
After a load of broilers leave the next day, we scrap out the mess.
We used a house keeper to scrap out the chicken’s droppings. This
piece of machinery is made for this specific reason. We sell it to
other chicken producers. We take the manure to the compost
building to make fertilizer. This task has helped me with my
agriculture classes because I do not mind to do dirty jobs like
painting fair projects, working in the greenhouse, and work with
other animals in livestock management classes. I know getting
down right dirty has good reasons behind it. I can also see that
hard work has very good results.
Produce Fertilizer
2. I have learned the importance of composting the dead chickens
with manure. It creates a very good fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
This is where I dispose of the dead chicks after picking them up.
There are several steps in completing this process. It is composed
of layers of dead chickens, manure, straw, and a sprinkle of water.
The layers are repeated until the bin is full. Then we start on the
next bin. The results that come from the compost building make an
excellent fertilizer that is very rich in nutrients. We use it on our
farm, and sell it to neighboring farms. We have a shed to store the
fertilizer until it is needed and a truck to spread it with.
Preparing the Houses for New Chicks
3. There are several steps in this process. We first pressure wash the
fans and waterline s before cleaning out the houses as already
described above. After the fans and water lines are cleaned they
are moved up with a pulley. The houses are then sprayed for
insects and with Al-clear to keep down the ammonia level. There is
then shavings spread throughout the houses. Waterlines and
heaters are let down, and we lay out paper under the feeders. The
borders or heaters are then air compressed to clean out all the
dust. We run the feed for about 12 hours before the chickens
arrive, set the temperature, and flush the water lines to remove the
air. The chicks are only allowed to roam within about half the length
of the chicken house when they first arrive until they grow.
Selling Equipment and Supplies
4. As I have already mentioned we own and operate McNabb
Equipment and Supplies. We sell all different sorts of equipment
needed for the houses. Supplies such as; motors for the feeders,
fans, waters, and headers. Sometimes when people are building
new chicken houses they buy all the equipment and machinery
needed to put inside the houses. We keep most everything on
hand. We also sell house keeps and the large feed bins to store
feed in. When you prepare the chicken house for new baby chicks
you sterilize them and spray Al clear to keep down the ammonia
level. We sell these chemicals as well.
Fixing Equipment When Needed
5. When doing daily checks I also observe the feeders, waters,
heaters, fans and other equipment in the houses. For example, I
have to make sure feeders are working in every house. It is not
uncommon to have a malfunctioning piece of equipment in the
boiler house. If the feeders are malfunctioning they have to be fixed
immediately. Chickens gain weight very fast, and if they 24 hours
without food it could hurt their weight which would affect our profit.
Repair the equipment can be easy or complex. I used to have a
hard time fixing it and needed extra help. This is one area I would
like to improve in.
Unloading Baby Chicks
*Additional Skills: Husbandry, Feed Mixing,
Moving Chickens to Different Chicken Houses,
Expanding Coop Capacity
6. This has always been my favorite part of living on a chicken farm.
They chicks arrive on tracker trailer trucks in crates. The crates are
stacked in a way so they do not squash the baby chicks below.
They are unloaded from the tracker trailer and put on a wagon
which is pulled by a tracker. It is pulled into the house and people
get on both side and start unpacking the chicks from the crates to
the houses. They are simply dumped out. And the crates are
stacked and taken back to the trucks. This is repeated until all the
chicks have been unloaded. There are 32,000 chicks put in the
tunnel houses and 23,000 chicks put in the conventional houses
which equals a grand total of 202,000 chicks.
Sheep Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Taking care of a new born lamb
Contributions to Success
1. When a lamb is born, I will give it 5cc’s of ovine ecolizer and
use 7% iodine on its navel. If I observe a lamb suffering from
hypothermia, I will warm 2-3 ounces of colostrum and then tube
the lamb.
Developed Breeding Plan
2. Examine the ewe’s muscular and structural correctness and
determine which ram will enhance her traits the best. Because
of this I sold two ewes at the national sale at an average of
$337.50.
Processing Lambs
3. When lambs are 3-7 days old they need to be docked,
castrated (if needed), given 1cc of Bo-Se, 2cc of C&D tokoide
and given an ear tag for identification.
Worming for Flock Health
4. 4cc’s/100# of Valbazen, 15cc’s Tramisol, and 9cc’s/100# of
Ivomec are administered two times a year at label directions.
Then again on an as needed basis helped diminish resistance
of worms.
Mixing Proper Feed Rations
5. My feed ration is a mixture of our own, which is based on a ton.
We have 1240 lbs of corn, 310 lbs oats, 315 lbs of soybean
meal, 60 lbs of premix, 75 lbs of molasses, which is a 14-14.5%
ration.
Maintaining Proper Hoof Care
6. It is important to keep my ewes’ feet trimmed so they don’t
develop foot rot. I trim the hooves 3 times a year. I do this after
lambing, before turning out on pasture, and when I see that
they have problems.
Selecting Animals
7. When selecting ewes to be retained, my father helps me
choose the ones that will best enhance my flock based on
muscling, structural correctness, and breed characteristics.
Assisting a ewe that is lambing
8. I can recognize different dystocia. Ewes are put into a 5X6 ft
jugs. Assist the ewe or call for assistance if needed. In the past
four years I have saved two lambs and helped my father save
10 lambs.
Using a three stage record system
9. I write down the sex, weight, and date of birth of the newborn
lamb in a small book that I keep with me, then I transfer it in a
book with my registration papers, and then it goes into my
computer.
Giving shots to improve the health of a ewe
10. I will follow the label directions or what my vet tells me and give
the shot. If she is still not better I will call my vet for more help.
This has resulted in only 5% death loss.
*Additional Skills: Breeding Management,
Birthing Lambs, Show Preparation, Grooming,
Castration
Small Animal Production and Care- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Airline Shipping
Contributions to Success
1. Air shipping has allowed me to expand my sales area. Out of
state customers will sometimes pay an additional $50-$100 per
puppy because of the market in their area. I have placed
puppies in four states
Removal of dewclaws and vaccination of
puppies
2. Cutting dewclaws and vaccinating is done during the first weeks
of life to prevent injuries or potentially fatal diseases. By doing
these tasks myself, I decrease my veterinary costs by over $6
per puppy.
Whelping management
3. Pregnant females are moved into an indoor whelping area 5
days prior to their due date for observation and climate control.
This practice has raised the number of puppies weaned per
litter by 10%
Selection of breeding stock
4. Genetics play a big role in producing the proper type of puppy.
Utilizing breeding animals that are genetically sound and that
adhere to breed standards has helped me to market 34 high
quality offspring.
Advertising
5. Investments in advertising on the internet and in newspapers
with statewide circulation have proven to be money well spend.
Puppies are usually sold at 7-9 weeks of age which reduces
food costs.
Registering dogs and puppies
6. Registered puppies must be produced from registered parents;
therefore, accurate documentation must be kept. Registration
may add as much as $100 to the value of puppy.
Facilities management
7. The cleanliness and condition of a kennel may not only affect
the health of the dogs, but also the first impression that is made
on a walk in customer. I clean and sanitize on a weekly basis.
Management of breeding animals
8. Annual vaccinations, proper diet, monitoring for heat cycles,
and parasite control are all practices that I carry out in order to
keep my adult dogs producing at optimum levels with 4-5 pups
per litter.
Nutrition Management
9. Hair coats and body condition are directly related to nutrition.
The evaluation of nutritional needs and food labels helps me to
provide good diets for my dogs. Customers will only buy a
healthy looking animal.
Public relations skills
10. My role changes from salesperson to customer. In each
situation, I must communicate clearly and professionally. I want
each of my contacts to be satisfied and enjoy doing business
with me.
*Additional Skills: Animal Husbandry, Spaying
and Neutering, Boarding Animals, Filling
Prescriptions, Surgery Assistance
Small Animal Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Identifying problems with Surgery/Boarding
Animals
Contributions to Success
1. In addition to my daily tasks associated with the surgery and
boarding animals, I am also responsible for checking for signs
of complications from surgery or care. After most surgeries, the
animals stay overnight for observation the following morning.
On Saturdays, I am the first person to see the animals so I must
look over them. Signs of complications include swollen/bleeding
paws on cats that were declawed, redness and swelling on
cats/dogs after spay or neuter, pulled stitches, etc. There are
even times where the animals pull out their IV fluid line and it
has to be replaced immediately. During the week, I still have to
check for any abnormal behavior when I come in after school
because of post-anesthesia effects which makes them more
susceptible to injury. If I notice any of the problems I
immediately notify the vet on staff so that the animal can
receive treatment.
Animal Restraint
2. Vets often need to perform treatments that require the animal to
be placed in a precarious or uncomfortable position. As a safety
precaution, the staff believes animals need to be restrained to
protect both pet and staff and I have been trained to do that.
Cats and dogs are generally restrained to prevent the staff from
being clawed or bitten. Cats are restrained by scruffing their
neck and holding their head away from the vet. Dogs are
restrained similar to the cats, but it takes more strength to
restrain them depending on size. It is of extreme importance
that I firmly hold on the animal to help minimize any sudden
movements. If a vet was giving a shot and the animal jumped,
the shot could miss the animal or accidently stick in the vet or
me. I am needed to help restrain the animals so the vets can
collect a blood sample from the leg or the neck, give a nail trim,
collect a fecal sample or tend wounds.
Counting Pills/Filling Prescriptions
3. The receptionists at the clinic ask me to get medicine ready for
count pills for clients whenever an order is called in or prior to a
pet leaving after surgery or care. I am responsible for counting
the medication and bottling it up. I am also responsible for
labeling the container or mixing up liquid medications. As an
example of a medication that needs mixing is Clavamox. With
Clavamox you add 14ml of water to a bottle of powdered
contents and shake well. I now know how to find the
medications in our pharmacy and can fill prescriptions for
simple orders. We also use control drugs that must be in a
separate room and locked up. If I filled a prescription of the
control drug Phenobarb, I would have to make sure that I put
back into the control room. Being able to correctly identify
medications and label them is critical for the health of the
animals and the happiness of customers.
Filling Vaccine Orders
4. When the vets are working with clients back to back, I am
asked to fill vaccines. When filling a shot, I must locate a new
syringe that is sterile and break the seal. Then I must locate the
vaccine bottle amongst the others in the refrigerator. Many of
them are similar in appearance, so I must read the label and
recognize the color on the top of the bottle to identify it. Many of
them already contain the dose, so I use all of the contents.
Other medicines, however, such as the Rabies vaccine require
one cc every time. I observe the vets when they give the shots
and see their technique for delivering the shot. Some
medicines, like EstumateB and Lutalyse for cattle, I cannot
handle because if I accidently inject myself with it, it could be
disastrous. I draw up the Parvo and Distemper shots, the feline
Calicivirus shot and the rabies shots. This saves time for the
vets and I to get to learn about medicines.
Surgery Assistance
5. During surgery assistance, I must stay focused and pay
attention to the needs and requests of the vet. Duties during
surgery include handing clean towels to the vets, adjusting light,
moving the animals into various positions or holding the animal
in position once the vet is situated. Other duties include
scrubbing and sanitizing the tools after surgeries. I have also
had the opportunity to help deliver puppies by clearing airways
and gathering puppies from the vet as they are delivered. I
have also assisted with C-sections. This requires me to gather
for the vet as he prepares himself for surgery. I have to hand
tools to him as needed and wash them off. I also have to draw
up injections for him to give to the animal and retrieve boluses
for him to use. After surgery, I help care for the newborns or, if
it has died, move it out of the work area to be disposed of
properly.
Fecal Testing
6. Many fecal tests are done each day at the clinic. These tests
are done to determine if an animal needs treatment and also to
determine the severity of the problem associated with common
parasites such as hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
For a fecal test, I place a sample into a tube and add Fecosol
solution, filling it up to the top of the tube. After 15 minutes, I
place a drop onto a microscopic slide and examine it. I am able
to identify a few parasites such as roundworms or ear mites
when under the microscope. The identification is always done
by the vets for final diagnosis. The vets at the clinic have taken
the time to allow me to learn how to identify some of these
basic parasites that are treated. By doing this for the vets, a
little bit of their time is spared and I am able to familiarize
myself with common parasites that dogs and cat can contract
from the environment.
*Additional Skills: Neutering and Spaying,
Animal Husbandry, Facilities Management,
Whelping Management
Specialty Animal Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Trout Hatchery Tours and Tri-States
Aquaculture Workshop
Contributions to Success
1. By touring three other trout farms and attending the Tri-States
Aquaculture Workshop, I was able to expand my knowledge in
aquaculture and apply it to my business.
Aquaculture Laborer
2. I have been working at a near-by fish farm for the past five
years. Through this I gained hands on experience of the daily
management of a fish farm by feeding, sorting, and disease
treatment.
Hog Building Renovations
3. One of the trout farms I toured was in a renovated hog building.
This gave me the idea and a plan to follow for my fish farm
renovations.
Obtaining permits and working with the Game
and Parks Commission
4. In order to have an Aquaculture Permit with the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission. I have learned to keep accurate
and up to date records of fish health and sales.
Daily aquaculture management
5. Daily management by hand feeding, observing fish behavior,
periodic sorting, cleaning and vacuuming pits, and monthly salt
treatments contributes to the health of my trout and success of
my trout farm.
Water Testing and Treatment
6. Water testing with a D.O. meter is used to ensure proper
oxygen levels for fish health. Monthly salt treatments to the
water provide a coating on the fish’s skin to deter bacterial
problems.
Developing a logo and business
7. Developing a unique logo and business card is essential to
increase recognition and advertisement and business.
Marketing
8. Calling on potential new fish farm clients extends my market.
Extending my market is necessary to business growth. In
marketing I am also learning to communicate with various types
of people.
Disease Identification
9. Watching daily fish activity allows me to identify problems. Fish
that are sick will not eat well and swim differently, these may
need to be sorted, treated with salt, and slowly put back on
feed.
Sorting Fish
10. Sorting fish is important for even size and growth. This is done
two or three times a year so that the smaller fish do not have to
compete for feed and grow more rapidly.
*Additional Skills: Nutrition Management,
Vaccines and Routine Health Practices, Herd
Management, Breeding
Specialty Animal Production-Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Nutrition Management of Meat Goats
Contributions to Success
1. The nutritional management of meat goats is critical to get
optimal performance of each animal on the ranch.
Independently supervise the feeding of a special group of Boer
goats requiring extra nutritional intake. I routinely monitor the
ration according to the stage of development of each animal,
environmental condition, and other factors that may affect the
amount and type of nutrient requirements as needed. The
average ration includes nutrition through alfalfa, oat, and grass
hay, minimal alfalfa grain pellet supplement, and pasture grass.
I design a different feeding program based on the season of the
year. During the winter the feeding ration consists of 20%
protein alfalfa hay in the morning, free range pasture grass
throughout the day, oat at night and grain to select animals.
This combination of nutrients allows the animals to have the
whole day to process the proteins and uses the carbohydrates
to keep the animals warm at night.
Administration of vaccines and routine health
practices
2. Healthy livestock is the key to successful and enjoyable
ranching. One integral piece of attaining this objective is to
maintain routine vaccination of all animals. I learn more each
year about which vaccines to give and how to administer them,
such as subcutaneously, intramuscularly, and intravenously. It
is also beneficial to know the best time of an animal’s life that
vaccines are most effective. One vaccine that I administer at
Boers by Hobby is Bo-Se. The soil at the ranch is selenium
deficient, so Bo-Se shots are given annually to make up that
deficit. Before it was known that Boers by Hobby had a
selenium deficiency, a couple of animals got sick and were
diagnosed with white muscle disease. White muscle disease
results from selenium deficiency and can be terminal if not
cared for. Now Bo-Se, along with other vaccinations, is given to
every animal to prevent any more casualties.
Record keeping for herd management
3. I developed this skill as I became more experienced. Initially, I
recorded herd and health information by just writing it in a
notebook as each procedure was performed. I was given more
responsibility and actually input this information into our main
computer herd book, which is an enormous Excel spreadsheet.
Information recorded would include her number, date of birth,
birth weight, multiple classification, parentage, percent full
blood, termination date and ending value. Another vital record
keeping portion of Boers by Hobby that I am responsible for is
the registration process of the majority of animals born on the
ranch. There are three breed associations in the United States.
Boer by Hobby uses the International Boer Goat Association as
the main registry. Pedigrees maintain a permanent record of
ancestry which is important for the future development of
breeds in any species.
Hoof trimming, dehorning, elastration, ear
tagging, tattooing, and ultra sounding for
pregnancy.
4. A Boer goat needs proper physical maintenance throughout
their lives and I improved my skill level in each of these
procedures as I grew with the ranch. Hoof trimming is definitely
an art, and I watched other people intensely before attempting
to trim the hooves myself. De-horning is an important task that I
performed on most wethers that are to be sold as fair projects.
Elastration is one task that I carry out to any buck that doesn’t
have the potential to be a breeding buck. Ear tagging and
tattooing are used as a source of identification at Boers by
Hobby. I put in ear tags at the time of the animal’s birth, but wait
at least a couple months before tattooing. The last one listed,
ultra sounding for pregnancy is a highly advanced skill that I am
very fortunate to have learned. Boers by Hobby purchased an
ultrasound unit, which allowed me unlimited time to practice
and become proficient in this area.
Advertising Boers by Hobby genetics
5. Boers by Hobby started their herd in 2001. In order to increase
sales of animals produced at the Boers by Hobby Ranch, I was
given the job of advertising through sales, shows,
demonstrations, word-of-mouth, magazine ads, and direct-mail
media is necessary to get the word out. I gained responsibility
in this area by assisting with regional sales such as the Reno
All-American Sheep and Goat Sale, the annual Boers by Hobby
Invitational Sale, Nasco fitting and showing demonstration, ad
on-farm sales as well as private showmanship clinics. Most
recently, I created many computer generated ads and sale
catalogs for promotion of the above activities and Boers by
Hobby genetics.
Grooming and showing Boer Goats
6. From the local level all the way to the national shows, I spend
many hours grooming each animal. Over the years I have
learned many techniques on how to clip the hair so that it
accentuates the good parts and helps to hide the faults. Even
the hooves are strategically trimmed to make the animal walk
as widely and correctly as possible. Professional showing is
more than just walking an animal in the show ring. I learned
how to show the animal to the best of its ability by emphasizing
the best traits such as breed character, width of chest, length of
body, levelness of rump, and soundness of feed and legs. The
most important part of showing is to be subtle and smooth to
ensure the judge notices the animal and not the showman.
Ultimately, correct presentation and showing of breeding
livestock promotes the genetics developed by a ranch such as
Boers by Hobby.
*Additional Skills: Trout Hatchery, Aquaculture
Labor, Goat Production, Boar Production, Bee
Production
Specialty Crop Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Application of fertilizers based on soil test results
Contributions to Success
1. By following the soil test recommendation, I ensure
that I am not wasting fertilizer and money. It also
allows me the potential for maximizing yields provided
growing conditions are favorable.
Use recommended dark fired and burley tobacco varieties
2. I have based my variety selection on yield, quality, and
resistance to disease. Use of recommended varieties
allows me to produce a crop that has sufficient yields
as well as good quality of leaf.
Use good quality barns that are sealed and don’t have
holes and cracks in them
3. If you use sealed barns, it will save money on sawdust
and slabs because you won’t have to fire the barn as
many times because the smoke won’t escape and the
barn stays hotter so tobacco won’t sweat.
Use of recommended herbicides and insecticides on the
tobacco crops
4. Proper use of insecticides and herbicides has
increased quality by reducing leaf damage from
insects and reducing competition between the tobacco
and weeds for nutrients and water.
Purchasing blue mold free tobacco plants
5. By purchasing plants from a reputable dealer, I know
that I am transplanting plants free of blue mold. This
prevents costly losses of yields and eliminates costs of
fungicides.
Applying tobacco sucker control agents
6. I use Sucker Plucker and Prime Plus to control sucker
growth. Applying these chemicals at the proper rate
and under the proper conditions helps increase the
quality and yield which both affect profits.
Proper tobacco harvesting techniques
7. I have reduced leaf damage, leaf loss, and sunburn by
the use of proper harvesting techniques. This has
helped me produce a higher quality leaf.
Proper tobacco housing techniques
8. Tobacco has to be properly spaced on the stick and
spaced properly in the barn. This allows good air
movement which reduces mold and sweat which
increases the quality.
Tobacco grading
9. Proper grading increases the uniformity of each bale of
tobacco. Uniform grading insures a good price at the
time of marketing.
Marketing of tobacco to buyers
10. My tobacco is contracted with Conwood and Hall as
well as Cotton tobacco companies. Before the season
starts, a contract for weight and price are agreed upon
in advance of growing the crop.
*Additional Skills: Crop Scouting, Grass Seed, Windrower
Operation, Hay Squeeze Operation
Specialty Crop Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Operating a Combine with the Grass Seed Header,
Trashing Options and Related Attachments
Contributions to Success
1. The bulk of the income generated by Kokkeler Farms
comes from the Specialty Crops of Grass Seed. The
specific skills needed for Grass Seed combining or
thrashing relate to the specialty nature of Grass Seed
production. The farms have seven combines total, two
Case 2188 and five John Deere 9600. We combine the
seed from the windrows when it is at the correct
moisture level 12-14%. When operating a combine the
most important thing is go the correct speed so you do
not lose seed. You also have to make sure the seed is
coming in clean & the thrashing is at the correct level
so all seed is harvested. The tiny seed size of the
Grass Seed make it more detail oriented than the
larger cereal grain crops. There are many types of
seed that are harvested & each crop has its own
nuances. Combining begins around 10:00 AM to
ensure any dew or moisture is gone & work until
evening dew.
Baling of Grass Straw to remove grass stubble
2. Grass straw is a by-product or waste product of the
Grass Seed industry. Baling grass straw has become a
vital part of Grass Seed farming. As the use of field
burning in the industry phased out in 2010. Left over
residue poses a disease and pest problem for the
producer. Removing the grass straw has become a
necessary step in preparing the fields for replanting or
conditioning of perennial grasses. Fields are baled
after being combined. For grass hay production, there
is a rotation system used where a percentage of the
total Grass Seed acreage is used for grass hay. The
baling of straw versus hay requires knowledge of the
two crops and the proper use of the machinery. Baling
straw is done in the mid to late summer after
combining and baling of grass hay is done in late
spring or early summer. Also there is a different
moisture level needed for straw versus hay.
Seed Cleaning and Bagging
3. Once the seed has been harvested and taken by the
bank-out wagon from the combine to the seed truck it
is taken across the scale and then to the seed cleaner.
It is dumped into a large bin, taken up by an elevator
into the cleaner and through screens and fans. It is run
into a carter and indent which separates small seeds,
keeping only the larger seeds of high quality. After this
the seed is put into bags and sown shut. Because we
do harvest many types of Grass Seed we also have to
completely clean and blow out the bins, pits, and seed
cleaner in between each type. Because Grass Seed is
the largest part of the farming operation ensuring that
the cleaning process is done accurately and that each
component is running correctly is of the utmost
importance. If the seed clean process is not running at
maximum efficiency all the efforts to produce crop
would be lost.
Windrower Operation
4. Unlike cereal grain crops that use a grain platform
header on their combines. The specialty nature of
Grass Seed production requires the use of
Swather/Windrower to lay down the crop in a windrow,
when the seeds are ripe and the moisture level is
between 30-45%. This must be done carefully and
accurately to keep the seed on the stalk until it can be
combined. Windrowing the grass seed crop at the
wrong moister level, ripeness, speed, or height can be
the difference between a good and bad harvest
percentage, every seed that falls on the ground cuts
into the profit margin. I have been called upon to make
the decisions if the weather and environmental
conditions are correct for windrowing. Windrowing is
done when there is little to no green in the head of the
seed (30-45% moisture) and is done night and day
until we are done. We can cut 1700 acres in 24.5
hours (farm record) with our 12 windrowers.
Operation of Hay Squeeze to remove Grass Straw
5. As part of the Grass Seed industry, Grass Straw is
viewed as a by-product or waste product. Once the
Grass Seed has been harvested from the field and the
and the straw has been baled, the grass straw must be
removed from the field efficiently and quickly, allowing
for the field to be readied for the next step before reseeding or conditioning of perennial grasses.
Additionally, straw must be properly stored and loaded
when it is time to ship it out. I ran the “road runner”
between fields loading semi-trucks with large bales
three at a time and then unload them at the
warehouse/straw storage barns. Upon the marketing of
the grass straw I then had the responsibility of loading
and tying down the grass straw for shipment. The
process for grass hay is very similar to that of grass
straw when it comes to running the Hay Squeeze. We
sell and ship the grass straw and hay year round and
loading of trucks is done weekly.
Transportation and Delivery of Products
6. At Kokkeler Farms we deliver all products sold to the
buyers locally and internationally. This requires the
transportation of products to merchants or to the
overseas shipping provider, with the exception of a
small amount of products that are sold locally or on
limited contract. One of my duties is to properly load
the products whether it is seed, seed straw, or grass
hay. I must ensure that the product will arrive at the
destination point in the same quality and condition that
it left the warehouse. Additionally, I have my CDL
license and I am able to transport the product driving a
semi with up to a double trailers. I am able to work
within a strict timeline and navigate through busy
highways and interstate traffic in both rural and urban
areas such as Portland, Oregon or Oakland California.
Safe and timely product delivery is important to our
customer service and maintaining customer relations.
*Additional Skills: Tobacco Production, Crop Production
and Harvesting
Swine Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Swine Selection
Contributions to Success
1. Using EPD’s I can select the best boar to use with
each of my sows. Keeping specific records has aided
in culling unproductive females, reducing feed costs.
Balancing Feed Rations
2. By determining feed requirements for each sow/hog I
can mix the feed according to their needs, regulating
amounts and protein needs, to eliminate excessive
feed costs.
Showmanship
3. I spend five to six hours with each show pig to train
them to the show ring which has allowed me to capture
more champions and blue ribbons in competition.
Clipping
4. Clipping the show hogs correctly clearly exhibits to the
judge that I am an experienced exhibitor and I have
won Nevada County FFA showmanship two years in a
row.
Water Requirements
5. Mature sows drink 8-10 liters of water per day. In order
to keep them lactating the nipple waterers flow from 12 liters per minute. Fresh, clean, cool water is vital to
maintain healthy sows with litters.
Genetics
6. Using the EPD’s, such as TSI and SPI, listed for most
top breeding hogs, allow s me to choose only the best
boars and replacement females, increasing weaning
and finish weights for my hogs.
Sow Care and Feeding
7. High feed intake during lactation ensures a higher
body score which will then cause the sow to cycle
more productively following weaning. An 18% protein
feed is fed, which has increased live births.
Processing Piglets
8. I can ear notch, clip tails, and give shots to the piglets,
with just the help of either my mom or dad. I also
determine medical needs and treatment needed for
any of the newborns.
Warming Newborns
9. I use towels and dry the pigs off immediately following
birth. I get the pigs warmed, rubbed off, and back
underneath the heat lamp and ready to suckle. This
has resulted in more pigs weaned per litter.
Breeding Sows
10. Using nose to nose contact with a chatty boar results
in more oxytocin being released by the sow during A.I.
which has resulted in more live pig births per sow.
*Additional Skills: Husbandry, Show Preparation,
Vaccination and other Health Practices, Ear Notching,
Semen Selection and Artificial Insemination, Farrowing
House Management
Swine Production- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Processing and Grinding Feed
Contributions to Success
1. Processing of feed is one of the key essentials in a
swine operation SAE. It all starts in the field where I
harvest the corn and put it in storage bins to be mixed
in feed later. The feed program is a very important part
of my SAE. First I must mix medications, such as
Tylan 40 or CTC100, and bean meal together. Then
the corn must be added and ground to a certain
fineness, so the feed is palatable and digestible for the
hog. Different amounts of mean meal and substitutes
create different feed mixtures for nursery pigs, grower,
first-stage gilts and barrows, and final-finish gilts and
barrows. They are all designed to give the pig
maximum amounts of usable protein, fiber, and other
nutrients to maximize the pigs growing ability.
Lactating sows and sows in gestation and breeding
periods are given different mixtures, and what will work
best in my operation.
Docking tails, clipping teeth, and castrating
2. Processing pigs is a very important part of my SAE & a
feeder pig’s life. As soon as pigs are born, they must
be worked over. This includes cutting tails, which
prevents other pigs from biting it, clipping teeth, to
prevent biting other pigs, and shots. We give two
shots: one of iron and one of a drug called Excede.
These shots help give the pig a better chance of living,
providing them with nutrients they can’t get in a crate
and to all around give the pig a better, healthier start in
life. When the pigs reach certain age, usually around
two weeks, we will go through and castrate pigs. This
process involves holding the pig upside down,
squeezing the back legs, and cutting the skin over
each testicle with a pair of sidecutters. Then you must
out each one, and spray the open wound with iodine. I
will also ear-notch gilts which came out of good
mothers we would like to keep in the future. I have
learned proper techniques in farrowing and early pig
care to produce top-notch, healthy pigs that will
perform on the finishing floor.
Swine Vaccinations and Medications
3. Vaccine programs and medications play a crucial role
in successful and healthy swine production SAE. We
wean on a 4 ½ to 5 week schedule, and vaccinate
weaned pigs based on the schedule. When we wean
we give a shot of Repisure and porcine-circovirus
vaccine at weaning and two weeks after. These aid in
the prevention of chronic pneumonia caused by
mycoplasma hypopneumaniae and the porcinecircovirus disease, providing us with better, healthier
pigs with reduced stress and death loss. Any sick hogs
we have through the barns we will medicate with
Excenel and other medicines. We also incorporate the
use of water medications if something should affect the
whole barn and for prevention. We vaccinate sows
with farrowPlusB and LitterGuard approximately 3
weeks before the sow is due to pig. During the time of
pigging, if the sow has trouble in labor we will medicate
her with EasyPop and/or Oxytocin. Healthy hogs
contribute to the success of my SAE.
Checking for Sick Hogs
Cleaning & Maintenance of Barns
Artificially Inseminating Sows
4. Every day, regular checks must be done on the hogs
in my SAE. The main reason of this practice is to
watch for any signs and symptoms of irregular
behavior and unhealthy hogs. Early detection of illness
is the key to successful disease prevention and
spread. One symptom to look for is coughing. This is
probably the easiest to detect and can be a tell-tale
sign of sickness. There can be a subtle cough, all the
way to a loud, hoarse, almost hacking cough, which
must be treated immediately. Also hogs will do what is
called “thumping”/ This Is when a hog will breathe hard
and have a quick thumping action to its lung and
midsection area. Discoloration may be a sign as well.
Hogs or sows may get a purplish color to them,
indicating a fever or related symptom. Also, when a
hog will go off feed and stop eating is a good sign of a
fever and just that the animal is not feeling the best.
Scouring or loose stools is a tell-tale sign of dysentery.
Careful checks and keeping a close eye is important to
a healthy, productive herd, from sows to fat hogs. This
is why this skill contributes to the success of my SAE.
5. Cleaning and maintaining the barns and facilities is an
integral part of my swine operation SAE. This should
be taken with as much consideration that might give to
selecting semen or keeping quality in your herd.
Washing buildings must happen every time hogs are
moved out and in. This cleans out anything left from
the last group, and helps ensure the building is clean
from any bacteria or other harmful agents that may get
into the next group coming in. The farrowing house
and nursery is very important for this. Regular
maintenance in the buildings is important a well. Items
such curtains, waterers, heater, feeders, ventilation
systems, pits, wash tanks, and other structural parts
must be checked and watched carefully. Keeping this
idea in mind is very important to running a successful,
productive operation where everything calculates into
your bottom-dollar. Knowing how to prevent and
maintain structural systems in my SAE has contributed
to the operation by keeping fixed costs low and profit
margins higher.
6. Artificial insemination is a very widely known practice
that brings preciseness and success to my SAE. It
gives accuracy of what you want in pigs and herd
genetics and also save labor and cost associated with
having your own boars. First you must select good,
healthy sows or gilts. They must be able to stand when
ready to breed. Live boars in adjacent pens or spray
sex odor (boar scent) work for this. Then once sow is
standing, clean vulva and insert semen rod. Be sure
the rod tip is angled upward so you will go toward the
cervix. Once there the rod tip should lock in place; if
not, that means the sow is not fully standing and
should try again. Then insert semen bottle at one end,
and gently squeeze to force semen down straw. The
sow should actually pull the semen by herself due to
uterine contractions. The process should be done
slowly and carefully to ensure safe and successful
breeding. The sow should not stand within 24 hours of
breeding, otherwise it was not successful.
*Additional Skills: Show Preparation, Farrowing House
Management, Piglet Care, Livestock Evaluation, Castration
Turf Grass Management – Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
I learn how to price a job according to customer
and size of lawn.
Contribution to Success
1. By pricing correctly, we will get the job at the highest possible
price the customer is willing to pay, and in turn, our profits have
gone up approximately 20% per job.
Learned to weed eat efficiently.
2. If we spend little time trimming, then we keep the big mower
running; therefore, we get more done in less time and maximize
profits.
What trimming to do first.
3. If the grass is very tall and weed eating is left until last, the
grass being cut by weed eater will not be chopped up, and
instead will be left in long, dry pieces and will degrade the lawn.
Proper way of cutting lawns.
4. There is much more to mowing the lawn than just getting it cut.
We use the diamond effect, much like baseball fields. Not only
does the lawn look better, but it prevents leaning and
compaction.
Learning at what height to cut grass
5. If we cut the grass too short, then we will kill the grass.
However, if we cut it too long, cutting quality declines.
Therefore, we must find the proper height of cutting for each
type of grass.
Advertising at the most effective time
6. If we wait too long to advertise, all new jobs will be taken by
someone else. By starting our campaign in February instead of
March or April, we obtained over 50% more jobs.
Understanding the amount to advertise to meet
our needs.
7. If we advertise too much then we will end up with more jobs
than we can handle. However, if we do not advertise enough,
we will not get enough jobs to continue to grow.
Learning the proper way to advertise.
8. Being in such a small town, we felt that we did not need to
spend large amounts of money on radio commercials. Since we
know the word spreads rapidly we save ourselves hundreds of
dollars.
Managing time for our benefit.
9. With good time management, we can be getting more done
instead of being stalled. If we prepare well, we will save
ourselves around 1 hour per day.
Record information in record book for each job
immediately upon completion.
10. Records are very important for this business. Last year, by
tracking our well-kept records, we realized that someone still
owed us $900.00.
*Additional Skills: Mower Operation,
Maintenance of Mowers, Water and Irrigation
Practices, Snow Removal, Fertilizer Selection
and Application, Developing a Lawn Care Plan
Vegetable Production- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Scouting for Insects and Diseases
Contributions to Success
1. Insects and diseases are challenging for any producer,
because damaged produce has to be marked down by
70% or more. Scouting regularly helps me determine if
pests are approaching a damaging level.
Utilization of Direct Marketing
2. I market my produce at the farm, home delivery, and
the area farmers market. Word-of-mouth is my best
marketing tool attracting 90% of customers. I also
make fliers and distribute them to area businesses.
Taking and Interpreting Soil Samples
3. Soil testing and applying proper amounts of fertilizer
and micronutrients provides for optimum growing
environment. Fertilizer costs have increased by 20%,
soil tests help me fertilizer more accurately.
Proper and Safe Application of Chemicals
4. Weather conditions are checked prior to spraying to
confirm proper coverage and minimum drift. Sprayer is
properly calibrated before each use. I always apply
and store chemical according to MSDS information.
Establishing a garden plan
5. Plant varieties that have good vigor, can tolerate heat,
and resist disease. Timing of planting should coincide
with optimum harvest market demands. This timing
allowed me to market my produce 3 weeks earlier.
Projecting Produce Sales
6. Anticipating customer’s needs is crucial for success. I
plant and raise new varieties, sometimes even before
it is requested, trying to stay ahead of my competitors.
This year I planted 2 new varieties.
Maintaining Accurate Records
7. Records of soil management, planting dates, plant
varieties, weather date, chemicals used, harvest
yields, and other appropriate information are kept for
future management decisions on my computer.
Developing a Strong Work Ethic
8. The success of my SAE projects is due to many long
hours of hard work. Prioritizing and organizing tasks
helps my operation run smoothly. Setting production
goals helps me to establish a business.
Customer Service
9. Communicating effectively with prospective customers
is essential for marketing and increasing sales. It is
also imperative when talking with customers, to also
listen to their requests and needs.
Variety Selection
10. Studying OSU Fact Sheets and reading gardening
magazines, I have learned valuable information on
specific crops. This knowledge has been very helpful
in the production and harvesting of my tomatoes.
*Additional Skills: Harvesting Techniques, Sorting
Techniques, Seed Variety, Weed and Bug Identification and
Eradication, Irrigation Practices, Soil and Vegetable
Sampling Procedures
Veterinary Medicine- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Nutrition Management
Contributions to Success
1. Nutrition plays an important role in the care and
treatment of animals. I have learned how to formulate
rations and determine feeding amounts to feed healthy
animals in our boarding clinic and also how to feed
those who suffer from illnesses or injuries. To
accomplish this goal I learned various animal
requirement and food ingredients such as protein,
carbohydrates, fats, etc. and how to determine the way
they affected the animal’s health. I also received
training by taking care of animal s in our kennels, and
our post treatment and observation areas. This
knowledge and these skills will also be beneficial to me
as I continue to enroll in nutrition courses in agriculture
education and college. Being associated with a clinic
which works with multi species is also an advantage
that broadens my learning in this area.
Medication Administration
2. Some of my duties at the clinic require me to
administer the medicine prescribed by the veterinarian.
I must learn the names and uses, dosage rates, proper
injection methods and sites, and the side effects of
many drugs involving the care of animals. Serious
problems such as allergic reactions, abscesses, etc.
Can occur if the wrong medicine, the wrong amount of
medicine or an improper administration technique is
used. The level of my skills ranges from oral
medications and bath treatments to intravenous
injections. Developing skills in the administration of
medications, has allowed me to advance in my SAE
area and this knowledge will be valuable to me as I
continue my studies. It is also beneficial in the
treatment of my own animals and livestock.
Proper Animal Handling
3. When treating animals there is a safety factor involved,
this includes both the patient and the care giver.
Animals may bite, scratch, and kick, etc. their
caregiver when they are hurt or nervous but they can
also cause injury to themselves or worsen an existing
condition. I have had the opportunity to learn valuable
skills involving animal handling at the clinic. I have
learned that there are a number of ways to restrain an
animal such as physically holding the animal, use of
equipment to confine or restrict movement, and the
administration of a sedative or anesthesia to calm the
animal. I presently use all of these methods as I
transfer animals to and from treatment rooms and
when I am preparing the animal s for a treatment. I
have found that these skills come in handy when I am
working with my other SAE projects in equine, and
swine management or helping a friend with theirs.
Pre-Surgical Procedures
4. Before surgical procedures or many veterinary
treatments can be performed, the animal must be
washed and dried and have hair clipped from the area
of treatment. The animal must be sedated and
restrained and have the surgical area sterilized or
disinfected to prevent infection. The operating or
treatment room and veterinary instruments or
equipment must also be clean, disinfected, and set up
for the procedure. These things are my responsibility
when I am working in treatment or surgery. Performing
these skills has given me an awareness of how easy it
is for an animal to get an infection and I have learned
ways to prevent the spread of germs from animal to
animal or equipment to animal. I have also learned
about different antiseptics and what pathogens they kill
and how to use them. This knowledge is valuable not
only in animal health but in human health.
Patient Monitoring
5. Some of my duties involve monitoring of the patients
for the veterinarian. I check and chart such things as
temperatures, heart rates, breathing rates, alertness
and other vitals for the veterinarian both before clinical
surgeries or treatments are performed and also in
recovery after the procedure are finished. I am also
responsible for being sure that bandages, casts,
sutures, etc. are not failing or being soiled or torn out
by the animal. This requires that I learn normal and
abnormal temperatures, heart and breathing rates, etc.
for all species of animals and that I learn how to apply
proper bandages and recognize those that are about
to fail. Other duties in this area include collecting
samples and preparing slides of bodily fluids and
setting up radiographs and other diagnostic equipment
for the veterinarians.
Surgical and Treatment Assistance
6. When I am working as a veterinary assistant I first
prepare for surgery by seeing that the room and
animal are ready for the veterinarian. This involves
cleaning, restraining, and sedating the animal and
seeing that the room and equipment are clean and set
o=up for the procedure. To do the set up I must be
familiar with the procedure and know what equipment
and instruments the veterinarian will use. After the
treatment starts it is my job to keep the animal
restrained and sedated, assist in monitoring vital signs,
pass instruments to the veterinarian, and often am
called upon to clamp arteries, suture incisions, retract,
swab, or any number of things that need to be done.
Being able to practice these skills is like a lab preview
when I get to veterinary college. I feel it is an
advantage toward my education and career goal
because many will not have the opportunity to have
these experiences.
*Additional Skills: Therapy and Rehabilitation after Major
Surgery, Developing Radiographs, Animal Care Pre/Post
Surgery, Filling Prescriptions, Vaccinations
Wildlife Production and Management- Entrepreneurship
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
I learn how to feed the pheasants different rations
depending on the stage of growth, and maintenance.
Contributions to Success
1. Reducing the protein as the birds grow has decreased
to costs of producing a pheasant $.50 a bird. This
made me an additional $1,500 last year.
I have learned how to manage the baby chicks in order to
minimize death loss.
2. Feeding a 32% protein ration, having plenty of fresh
water and keeping the brooder at 100 degrees for the
first week is essential.
I have learned how to minimize the chicks from piling up on
each other and reduce suffocation.
3. I now build the sawdust up in all the corners of the
brooder so that it slopes toward the center of the
brooder. This eliminates them from piling up in the
corners, reducing losses 10%.
I learned how to build the fly pens to be efficient and
effective and maximize production.
4. I built the fly pens to the size I could get the best deal
on the nylon netting. I made them big enough so the
birds get plenty of exercise and minimize pecking,
maximizing tail feather growth.
I have learned how to regulate the brooder temperature to
reduce stress and death loss.
5. I determined that by keeping the temperature for 100
degrees the first week and then reducing the
temperature 3 degrees every week until it is warm
enough for them to go outside, reduces losses.
I learned money management and how to regulate my cash
flow from one year to me next.
6. I have my own savings and checking accounts; I have
learned how to budget enough money to carry over
form one year to the next in order to have enough
money to purchase my inventory.
I learned to be responsible for the time I spent and the
quality of work I put into a job.
7. I became independent and a hard worker and I learned
that I got out of every job what I put into it. It is easier
to do it right the first time than to do it again.
I was able to become involved with the Fish and Wildlife
Service, which helped me to decide on a career.
8. I have sold them pheasants and have been able to on
some of their job sites and become familiar with them,
now I might have a chance of future employment
opportunities.
I have learned the importance of customer satisfaction, and
communication skills.
9. I have had almost 100% repeat customers and most of
my sales have come from word of mouth advertising. If
the customer is pleased he will be back to purchase
more birds sooner or later.
I learned how to manipulate the light in order to reduce
death loss and pecking and how to put on peepers.
10. For the first 10 weeks I use only two 40-watt light bulbs
painted red, so the chicks can barely see. This
prevents the chicks from pecking each other, along
with the use of peepers when their older.
*Additional Skills: Wildlife Fur Quality Management,
Trapping Techniques, Firearm Safety and Handling, Wildlife
Population Management, Resource Management,
Developing Humane Trapping Systems
Wildlife Production and Management- Placement
Skills, Competencies, and Knowledge
Food Plot Construction
Contributions to Success
1. Managing for a variety of plant species rather than
emphasizing a single species, increases the probability
that all the wildlife’s needs for food and cover will be
met. Different plants produce seeds at different times
during the growing season and different types of seeds
provide different nutrients. In March I disliked the food
plots for May planting. I plant a blend of millets, grain
sorghums, and cowpeas in these summer plots for
deer and quail. Establishing native grass buffer strips
around cultivated fields has greatly increased the
number of upland game birds and small game. In late
fall I plant the food plots to wheat, rye, and chicory for
the deer. Leaving a cover crop: grain sorghum and
millet stalks to provide cover for the game birds. In
addition the crop residue improves the organic matter
of the soil. I take soil samples every year. The soil
analysis provides me with information on PH level and
fertilizer recommendations.
Hatching and Raising Game Birds
2. In the spring of each year, I obtain my supply of quail
eggs, chukar eggs, and pheasant eggs from the Sand
Prairie Quail Farm. Upon receiving the eggs, I place
them in an incubator that holds 1300 eggs with an
automatic turner. The incubator is set at 99.5 to 100.2
degrees with high humidity to initiate hatching. It takes
quail eggs 23 days to hatch. The last three days eggs
are moved from the incubator to a hatcher. After the
quail hatch they are left in the hatcher to dry off for a
day. Then they are moved to a small brooder for 7 to
14 days and then to a fly pen. Usually at six weeks of
age the quail are branded and released. Pheasants
have to be isolated in their own pens because they will
not adapt well with other species. Chukas are very
similar to quail so they can be penned together.
Hatchlings are fed a 28% protein commercially mixed
game bird starter feed. All equipment is sanitized
thoroughly between hatches.
Designed and Fabricated Bird Pens
3. Using the mechanical skills and competencies that I
have mastered in my agriculture education classes, I
designed and constructed fly pens for my employer. I
made pens out of cattle panels bent over a pipe frame.
The cattle panels were welded to the frame for
support. A small door was made for easy access into
the pen. Then, I put bird netting over the pen using hog
rings to secure the net in place. I had to make sure
there were not any holes in the netting, because the
birds will find them and get out. One end of the fly pen
is smaller to make it easier to catch the birds without
injury. Since I am hatching out different species of
game birds, several pens are needed to keep the
species separated. I built small pens covered with
chicken wire to house the quail. To reduce injuries in
chukars and pheasants. I prefer to house them in pens
constructed with netting.
Predator Control
4. Predators are becoming an increasingly larger problem
in wildlife management. Bobcats, raccoons, and
coyotes are especially detrimental to the pheasant,
chukers, and quail populations. I built eleven box traps
in my agriculture education classes and use them to
trap predators. Trapping predators has helped
increase the upland game bird population for my
employers and help reduce over population of predator
animals. My employers prefer that I use box traps
instead of foot hold traps, so a hunting dog doesn’t get
a foot injured. Trapping season runs from the first of
December until the end of February. Before trapping
season begins, I contact the Oklahoma Department of
wildlife to verify the trapping season daters per species
and to purchase a valid fur-harvester license. The
money made from selling the pelts is used to buy
materials needed to construct additional traps and
purchase ammunition.
Habitat Management
5. The planning sequence for habitat management is the
same whether for upland game birds, deer, or
waterfowl. First, I mapped what vegetation is present
and how it is distributed. Mapping provides important
information about vegetative components and their
distribution to each other. Then I determine what my
targeted species is and focus on what plants needed
to be planted for the species to thrive. All wildlife
requires cover, food, and water to survive. My primary
objective in managing wildlife is to identify the limiting
factors like inadequate water, food or cover, and take
corrective action to improve the habitat by improving
these conditions. I work closely with the game ranger
to learn the habitat needs of game birds, deer, and
waterfowl in my area, so I can establish habitat
accordingly. Diversity is also important so all these
species can co-exist in the same area. A written plan
helps me organize and implement changes.
Animal Identification
6. I take great interest in determining how many birds
survive in the wild after release. My first year, I banded
quail and pheasant with plastic bands using a different
color for each released. That winter we shot very few
birds with bands. We finally show a bird that had a
plastic band and it looked brittle. I wondered how many
bands fell off birds when the weather got cold. This
past year, I purchased some metal bands with a
bander. I banded all the birds with numbered metal
bands. So far this year I have had more reports of live
birds with metal bands. I record all the numbers in my
computer along with release dates and locations. My
employers always let me know when banded birds are
shot. This helps me determine how long the birds are
surviving in the wild. I use this information to evaluate
the effectiveness of the current management plan and
determine if changes need to be made to specific
habitat areas.
*Additional Skills: Managing Wildlife Populations, Animal
Game Processing, Habitat Management, Skinning,
Development and Use of Scents and Lures, and Various
Bait, Resource Management