ExTEnDED LEArning OPTiOns
BoosT YouR cAReeR Into the
prospects with
firsthand experience
in Agriculture, food &
natural Resources.
Field
L
auren Schroeder graduated with a opportunities come in many varieties, internships
degree in animal science from Texas including special summer programs like Not all extended learning opportunities
A&M University in 2006. While in the one Schroeder attended, summer allow students to collect paychecks, but
high school, she was involved in livestock or after-school jobs, internships, job even if the positions are unpaid, they
judging with 4-H and attended summer shadowing, student organizations, provide plenty of other payoffs, notes
livestock judging camps for high school volunteering, and work-based learning Kirk Edney, who, like Knezek, is a
students at Texas A&M for two years. programs that allow students to split their curriculum specialist at Texas
“It was a great experience,” she says. time between school and working in an A&M University.
“Students practice judging and giving oral occupation that interests them. “Students interested in animal
explanations of their decisions. It teaches “Most extended learning opportunities science who have an internship with
critical thinking skills because judges are for part-time jobs or summer jobs,” a veterinarian might not get paid,” he
have to make a prompt decision and then says Tim Knezek, curriculum specialist explains, “but the internship makes
defend it. It also teaches speaking and at Texas A&M University. Popular areas it easier for student to get accepted to
communication skills and helps them include jobs in landscaping, small-engine veterinary school after college, and that
develop the self-confidence to speak in equipment repair, meat departments at isn’t always easy.”
front of a group of people,” she adds. supermarkets, and horticulture. “We see Some fields or jobs limit student
a lot of students working in the gardening participation for legal reasons. “For example,
A variety of Opportunities department of conglomerates like Home employees have to be over 18 to operate a
Some of the most valuable lessons high Depot or a local store,” Knezek notes. meat slicer,” Edney says. “But there are plenty
school students in Agriculture, Food & Logan West, now a sophomore at of other jobs students can do.”
Natural Resources learn evolve outside the Texas A&M University, worked for a local
classroom. Extended feed store in the afternoons during his student Organizations
learning senior year. “I kept the warehouse clean, Groups such as 4-H and FFA are
unloaded shipments, took inventory, and especially rich in hands-on learning
sold feed and pharmaceuticals,” he says. opportunities (see “Cultivating
“It was a great experience. I earned an Leadership”), as well as scholarships—
income and it was good for my resume, each organization provides $2 million in
too. I learned accounting principles that I scholarship money in Texas every year.
still use today.” FFA has more than 62,000 high school
THe rubY red grapefruIT,
THe fIrsT grapefruIT To be granTed
a u.s. paTenT, was developed In Texas.
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