RSD to Begin Agriculture Program
RUSSELLVILLE Ark.- Russellville School District will be starting an Agriculture Education Program beginning the 2023-2024 school year. The program will launch with two agriculture introduction courses taught at Russellville Junior High School and Russellville High School. Advanced courses will be offered as the Agriculture program grows.
8th graders will take Introduction to World Agriculture, which is a foundation course for agriculture programs and introduces students to basic agriculture concepts. 9th-12th graders will be taking the Survey of Agriculture class which will include general agriculture topics, FFA, leadership, and supervised agricultural experiences (SAE). Beginning the 2024-2025 school year, RHS will begin offering classes in the Agriculture Business pathway for students who have completed the survey of agriculture class.
Mrs. Elizabeth Vaught, newly hired Russellville Agriculture Teacher, will be leading the program in its first year of implementation.
“I am excited to return to Russellville, my alma mater, to introduce the District and community to the world of agriculture and FFA! With agriculture as the largest industry in Arkansas, it's a perfect fit,” commented Mrs. Vaught.
In conjunction with Agriculture classes, RSD students will now be able to join FFA. FFA is a national youth organization which prepares students for leadership and career success in agriculture education through opportunities such as leadership development events and career development competitions.
RSD Board of Education President, Jeremy D. Keaster, has worked in Agriculture his entire career and says he’s seen the amazing leadership skills and opportunities that agriculture programs provide for students. “Reviving an Ag Program at RSD is long overdue! I have seen first hand how Agriculture students thrive in and around our community as well as our state. The industry partners I work with on a regular basis are proud to see this taking off in Russellville.”
RSD students interested in enrolling in the Agriculture classes may notify their counselors to complete enrollment.
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