Sit in on an agriculture class at Litchfield High School, and it might not be what some people would expect.

For example, students might be arranging a decorative floral arrangement or mounting their newly harvested deer. They could be discussing how to groom a rabbit or testing water from the local creek.

And don’t expect the students to be dressed in John Deere green either, for many of the students have never milked a cow, chased cattle or ridden in a combine.

Ag education has changed greatly in the past 25 years. While the traditional topics of production agriculture, such as livestock science and agronomy, remain, agriculture education has broadened to encompass areas not solely associated with farm life.

“Agriculture and science (are) just constantly changing, and in order to better prepare the kids that are growing up today, we need to educate them on the new technologies,” said Michelle Hansen, agriculture teacher at Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School in Grove City.

Read more in the Feb. 21 Independent Review.