Agriculture
The agriculture program at Coomandook is something that we as a school and our community value highly. All students from Reception to Ten have specialised Agriculture lessons with Year Eleven and Twelve students being able to study Agriculture through their SACE and as a VET subject here on site.
Our Primary Ag program includes students being involved with the Kitchen Garden Program, in-depth studies into different livestock areas and facilitating and running our Free-Range Egg program. Students in years six and seven also have the opportunity to be a member of our Goat Club and our Royal Adelaide Show Team which travels to Adelaide in term three to compete at the show.
Each year the Secondary Ag program focusses on a different aspect of Agriculture and Horticulture to prepare students to be able to choose their area of specialisation once they reach their SACE. Year Eight students Agriculture is based around establishing their own garden and being able to on sell produce and students in Year Nine compete to create the most successful Agriculture business in an area of their choosing. Year Eight and Nine students are also involved in the preparation of the goats and pigs for the Royal Adelaide Show and are invited to join the Goat Club to compete at the show. This prepares students for the livestock and animal handling focus of the Year Ten agriculture program. Students work to prepare cattle and other animals ready for presentation at the show and can choose to be a member of the Show Team.
SACE Agriculture can be undertaken in many different ways at Coomandook. Students in Year Eleven and Twelve students can be enrolled in SACE Agriculture and Horticulture and work with their teacher to choose what area they would like to focus on. If students would like to they can choose to study Agriculture as a part of a Community Studies at Year Eleven and at Year Twelve, this enables students to still participate in studies of Agriculture but reduces the theory component required.
Along with SACE Agriculture students can participate in a VET course in Rural Operations here on site or Shearing School at a local farm. These can be undertaken as well as SACE Agriculture and in some instances can be begin in Year Ten. For more information on VET courses we offer at Coomandook please see the VET page.
The Coomandook Area School Show Team is a well-represented and respected team both within the school and the show community. Each year Coomandook takes approximately 50 students to the show as members of the show team. This experience teaches the students about the many facets of agriculture that they can be involved in, as well as developing transferable skills that will assist students into their future lives. Currently students compete with Marino Wether Sheep, Led Boer Goats, Schools Led Steer and Schools Pig Handling. This year Coomandook will be introducing another strand to our Agriculture program by offering students the opportunity to work with Dairy Cattle. Students in the lower secondary years will be involved in preparing Dairy Cattle for the Royal Adelaide Show whilst developing an understanding of the Dairy Industry and how they can be a part of this.
Over the last three years we have won many accolades including
- Champion Cereal Hay
- Best Presented Goat Show Team
- Champion Light Weight Steer on Hoof
- Champion Heavy Weight Steer on Hoof
- Reserve Grand Champion Steer on Hoof
- Grand Champion Steer on Hoof