Ag Program (FFA) - Gilroy High School

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SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AT GILROY HIGH

Agriculture Program/ FFA

Gilroy High's Agriculture Program/FFA is a total agriculture education program that connects students to exciting careers in science, business and technology of agriculture.

The program is a unique hands-on pathway that consists of a series outstanding courses taken over the four years of high school. The pathway requires not only a high level of achievement inside the classroom, but countless hours outside of school as well. Students who successfully complete the ag pathway will receive a special recognition at graduation.

The Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a key part of our curriculum — but it's only one of three essential components of this system. Get to know the “three circles” that work work together to provide our students with experiences essential for success:

Classroom/Laboratory Instruction

Ag is rooted in science, math, business and technology. The curriculum also encompasses careers from the tech industry to the biomedical field. We also focus on developing 21st-century skills, such as public speaking, confidence and the ability to advocate for something you believe in.

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)

SAE projects are outside of class hours and give our students opportunities to apply what they've learned in the classroom. We work with each student to find what interests them and help them develop a project that can grow with them over the course of the program.

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Gilroy High FFA has been a part of the National FFA organization since 1931. FFA's mission is to develop students' potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through ag education. Participants are part of the largest student-led organization in the United States.

Application process: Students interested in the program must apply in the spring of their eighth-grade year.

Participation in dual specialized programs: The ag program works in tandem with other specialized programs at Gilroy High: the Biomedical Science Academy (BSA) and Dual Immersion. Students can be given accommodations to fulfill dual program requirements. This allows more students to participate in multiple programs without sacrificing the overall program rigor and expectations. Contact your academic coordinator for more information.

Course and GPA requirements: The program is a unique hands-on pathway that consists of seven outstanding courses taken over the four years of high school. These courses are rigorous and align with not only your science courses, but fulfill credits in Career Technical Education (CTE), Fine Arts and Social Science.

Students must:

  • Be enrolled in an ag course all four years of high school. Courses should follow the sequence seen below. See the full course descriptions in the course catalog.
  • Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and pass all ag courses with a C- or better. Failure to maintain the required GPA will result in possible removal of the program.

Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) Project: SAE projects are required and completed outside of class hours that expand on what the students are learning in the classroom. These unique opportunities allow students to apply those skills and showcase them to the community, classmates and the school. Some of these projects can even lead to full-blown businesses and allow students to earn money. Others are more scientific- or research-based. We work with each student to find what interests them and help them develop a project that can grow with them over the course of the program.

Projects can be:

  • Livestock projects
  • Horticulture
  • Job shadowing/internships in the ag field
  • Paid placements within ag companies
  • Research in the field of ag field
  • Learning about issues in ag and educating the community
  • Organizing an event related to an issue in ag
  • Agricultural mechanics, including gas and diesel engines
  • Woodworking and welding projects
  • Raising a service dog

Record keeping: Students are required to keep accurate records of their projects (both financial and hourly), attendance to FFA events and other activities using the online AET record book system. This will help them track their hours for community service, finances, and coursework. This system will be taught to the students and expected to be updated and maintained throughout their time in the program. These records will help students obtain degrees in this organization, apply for scholarships, awards and grants, participate in competitions, build resumes and explore career opportunities.

Event attendance: Students are required to attend six local FFA chapter events. These can include, but are not limited to, meetings, events, fundraisers, hangouts and community-service. Additional opportunities become available beyond the chapter level, including multiple travel opportunities spanning the state.

Recommended Course Sequence (Ag classes are in bold)

Students must be enrolled in an ag course all four years of high school. Courses should follow the sequence below. See the full course descriptions in the Gilroy High course catalog.

Students need to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and pass all ag courses with a C- or better. Failure to maintain the required GPA will result in possible removal of the program.

FRESHMAN YEAR

  • English I or English I Honors
  • Math I or Math I+ Honors
  • P.E. or Zero P.E. (zero period)
  • Spanish I
  • Ag Biology
  • Ag Science I (elective)

SOPHOMORE YEAR

  • English II or English II Honors
  • Math II or Math II+ Honors
  • P.E. II
  • Spanish II
  • World History or AP World History
  • Ag Chemistry

JUNIOR YEAR

  • English III, AP English Language or ERWC 11
  • Math III or Math III+ Honors
  • U.S. History or AP U.S. History
  • Physics or AP Physics
  • World Language III or Floral Design (electives)
  • Veterinary Science(elective)

SENIOR YEAR

  • English IV, AP English Literature, ERWC 12
  • Statistics, Trig Precalculus, AP Calculus AB or AP Statistics
  • Ag Economics/Government
  • World Language IV or Floral Design (electives)
  • Veterinary Science (elective)
  • Elective

Note: Floral Design can be taken more than one year.

Program Staff

Angelique Gutierrez

Ag ChemistryFloral Design

Allyah Pulido

Ag BiologyAg Science IVeterinary ScienceAg Government & Economics

Gilroy High ag students are also part of the National FFA organization, which opens opportunities and pathways to careers, travel, competition and leadership.

FFA can help mold leadership skills outside of the classroom. Students can choose to run from leadership positions at the chapter (local), section (county), region (Central Coast) and state levels of the organization. They represent the various members in these areas, develop leadership, communication and teamwork skills. They also learn how to plan engaging lessons, events and activities and serve their members.

Students can also develop skills in various competitions in the FFA, from various speaking contests to judging and hands-on skills that will help them in potential careers. These can range from veterinary technician skills to tractor driving, how to run a proper meeting to judging fruits and vegetables. If a student has an interest in a subject, we can find a team or contents for them. These contests provide opportunities for students to travel throughout California, potentially compete and represent Gilroy FFA at the state level and make friends along the way. Many of competitions take place on college campuses and allow students the opportunity to tour the campus and see what they have to offer.

Do you have to raise an animal if you're in the ag program? No. While we have livestock at Gilroy High FFA Farm nearly year-round, not all ag students will choose to raise an animal.

Can you only take ag classes if you started the program as a freshmen? We recommend an ag-focused course sequence that spans all four years of high school. But, some program classes, like floral design, are open to other students as electives.

Hazel Quintero President

Caitlyn Correia Vice President at Large

McKenna Cooper Vice President of Committees

Isabella Alvarez-Rubio Secretary

Adrian Figueroa Treasurer

Alexis Mydell Reporter

Francisco Urias​​​​​​​ Sentinel

Mackenzee Balaoro Historian

Sawyer Tankersley Student Advisor

Santiago Trujillo Building Communities – Human Resources Committee Chair (Community Service)

Samantha Bankston Building Communities – Stakeholder Engagement Committee Chair (FOOD)

Benjermin Garcia and Brianna Sander Strengthening Agriculture – Chapter Recruitment Committee Chairs

Daniel Garamendi Finance Committee Chair

Resources

  • Gilroy High FFA on Facebook
  • California FFA

Mustang Spotlight: Ag by the Numbers  

95,000 FFA members in California  

415+ FFA students at Gilroy High  

9 Ag courses at Gilroy High

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