AFNR Standards - National FFA Organization

PurposeAgriculture is a highly technical and ever-changing industry upon whicheveryone is dependent. We will maintain agriculture as our nation’s number oneindustry only if we understand the importance of the different agrisciences, ofmarketing strategies, of safe food production and of the need for continuousresearch to improve agriculture. Strong, relevant agriscience programs are oneway we can maintain our nation’s agricultural edge.The National AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards were developed as partof the National FFA 10 x 15 project to provide state agricultural educationleaders and teachers with a forward-thinking guide for what students shouldknow and be able to do through the study of agriculture in grades 9 through 14.The National AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards should be used as aguide to develop well-planned curriculum in agriscience education to bedelivered to students throughout the country. Just as agriculture variesthroughout our nation, so will our agricultural education programs. Statesshould use these standards in conjunction with state and local advisorycommittees to determine what is most relevant and appropriate for theirstudents in providing that all-important link between the school and thebusiness community. The standards, performance elements, performanceindicators and measurements should be used by educators to guide agriculturaleducation curriculum development at the state and local levels.Structure and OrganizationThe National AFNR Career Cluster Content Standards are organized asfollows: AFNR LifeKnowledge® and Cluster Skills Standards (CS)—foundational to studyin any of the Cluster’s eight pathways. They involve underlying concepts neededfor success regardless of the pathway pursued. The standards cover suchfundamental concepts as leadership, communication, teamwork and general safety.Beyond the coverage of these foundational skills, the pathway content standardsare further organized into eight pathways of study. The pathway contentstandards cover technical content required for future success within eachrespective pathway.The eight pathways in the AFNR Cluster are: Agribusiness Systems (ABS)—the study of business principles, includingmanagement, marketing and finance, and their application to enterprises engagedin Agriculture, Food and Natural Resourcesiii