New Middle School Exploratory: Agribusiness

This year marks the first that Agribusiness is offered as a middle school exploratory. Seventh graders are combining agricultural practices with business strategies, encompassing the entire process from production to consumption. This educational offering was made possible through the Lion Fund and donations received as part of the 2024 year end appeal.  Learn more in this Q and A with Agribusiness teacher Mr. Ben DeFord.   

What are student experiencing in Agribusiness right now?

As this quarter winds down, our class has the opportunity to hear from DMC parents and others who currently work in the ag industry. Agribusiness encompasses a broad swath of industry, from IT and robotics to human resources and accounting--and many other job titles. One goal of this class is to connect students with future job opportunities they might not have otherwise considered. I love hearing our guest speakers emphasize how their studies in school directly impact the work they do today! Soon, students can harvest the veggies growing on our two hydroponic systems. (The green beans and lettuce look the best so far!) We're also growing peppers, basil, dill, mini-pumpkins, lavender, sunflowers, and several other plants hydroponically.

How is this class benefitting students?

Mr. Town, DMC Head of Middle School, and I identified a need in our previous K-12 curriculum that we could fill by offering agribusiness in middle school to supplement and extend what our students learn in life science. Kids often have a narrow view of ag, assuming that farmers are the only industry workers. In reality, many workers never touch a plant or step foot in a field in their ag work. This class helps broaden students' perspectives, offering them novel options for future education and careers. Students mentioned that they were surprised to learn how agribusiness doesn't just mean working with crops directly.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I'm excited to integrate more technology in the class this year, and I have really enjoyed hearing from our DMC parents who share their personal ag experiences with students. When kids hear from professionals about the importance of education, they are more likely to recognize the importance of what we do in class every day.