Agricultural Sciences and Technology

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Location:

          Platte Building, Room 114A, Fort Lupton Campus

Program Chair:

           Ellen Swieter, 970.339.6522
           

Advisors and Faculty:

Dr. Bill Bennett

Aileen Ehn

Kirk Goble

Amy McFarland (advisor)

Weston McCary

Ryan Schmitt

Degrees/Certificates offered: 

AgriBusiness Degree Program (two-year A.A.S. degree) 

AgriBusiness Management Certificate (two-semester certificate)  

Animal Science Degree Program (two-year A.A.S. degree) 

Animal Science Certificate (two-semester certificate) 

Production Agriculture Degree Program (two-year A.A.S. degree)  

Precision Agriculture Certificate (two-semester certificate)  

Production Agriculture and Crop Certificate (two-semester certificate)  

Production Agriculture Mechanics Certificate (two-semester certificate)

The Agriculture Department also offers statewide articulation agreements with Colorado State University in:

Ag Business Associate of Science (two-year degree)

Agricultural Education Associate of Science (two-year degree)

Animal Science Associate of Science (two-year degree)

Horticulture Associate of Science (two-year degree)

Soil & Crop Sciences Associate of Science (two-year degree)

Essential Skills:

• Visual Acuity - sufficient to assess environments and to follow written instructor directions.
• Auditory Ability - sufficient to assess the classroom environments and to follow instructor directions.
• Olfactory Ability - sufficient to assess environmental odors
• Tactile Ability - sufficient to detect changes in temperature levels and differences in sizes and shapes.
• Fine Motor Skills - sufficient to perform psychomotor skills integral to program requirements.
• Gross Motor Skills - sufficient to provide the full range of safe and effective program activities.
• Strength and Mobility - sufficient to perform procedures.
• Physical Endurance - sufficient to complete assigned periods of practicum/labs/clinicals.
• Ability to Communicate, Comprehend, Read, and Write in English - at a level that meets the need for accurate, clear, and effective communication with individuals respecting social, cultural, and spiritual diversity.
• Behavior Stability - the student must exercise good judgment and promptly complete all responsibilities of an entering student. The student must function effectively under stress, and adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways; and follow through on assigned responsibilities and accept accountability for actions.
• Cognitive Ability and Critical Thinking Skills - to collect analyze and integrate information and knowledge to make judgments and decisions that promote learning outcomes.

Potential Opportunities:  

Agribusiness is a field that encompasses the technologies of agriculture and business, combining the management aspects of business with the production factors of agriculture. This degree provides skilled technicians for the part of the agricultural industry that serves the producer and processor, which can include finance, banking, sales, marketing, insurance, customer relations, public relations, etc.

The purpose of the Production Management degree is to equip students with the necessary management and production skills required in the field of production agriculture today. Students seeking an occupation in farming or ranching will be able to pursue a variety of skills and competencies necessary to meet their individual career objectives, which can include farm management, crop consultant, sales, agriculture extension agent, and precision agriculture specialist.

An Animal Science degree will give students the opportunity to learn about farm animal care, feeding, anatomy and physiology along with understanding the broad animal agriculture industry. Job opportunities include livestock feedlots, processing, sales, pharmaceuticals, livestock supplies, marketing, public relations, feedlot management, veterinarian and agriculture educator, to name a few.

Horticulture is a growing industry where there are skills sets needed in understanding the science of soil and plants. Skills to understand how to run greenhouses and landscaping with being able to troubleshoot the land and environment that best suits the plants. Career opportunities included are greenhouse specialist, grower, landscape manager, groundskeeper, etc.

Certificates are usually one year technical programs that require no general education course work. All of the certificate course work will lead directly into a related Associate of Applied Science Degree program.  The certificate is designed to help students gain immediate employment. 

In addition, the five Associate of Science transfer degrees allow for direct transfer to Colorado State University to complete a Bachelor’s degree in a number of agriculture areas.

Agricultural Sciences and Technology Advisory Committee

Chris Badding, Kuhn Knight of Greeley

Lanny Huston, Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association

Jimmy Lotspeich, Weld Central High School

Cody Loyd, 21st Century Equipment

Sandra McDonald, Mountain West Pest

Mark Reinert, Agfinity

Don Thorn, Colorado FFA Foundation

Buddy Truesdell, B&G Equipment

Kristen Tucker, Western Dairy Association

Britney Wright, Weld Central High School

Return to: Degrees and Certificates