Students bring in ducks and chickens to learn hands-on. Photo by: Miss Hoffman

By Jack Bowen

Agriculture is a very important part of Indiana’s culture and economy.  In this world of technology, agriculture is still very important.  This why it is important that PHS offers classes in agriculture.  One  agriculture class that PHS offers is Animal Science.

The Core 40 graduation track requires that a student to have a minimum of six science courses.  While many students may fill up these credits with classes such as Chemistry, Biology or Physics, there have been more students participating in a not so well known science class called Animal Science.  Miss Hoffman teaches this class.  In this class, students learn of animals big and small and how they eat, grow and behave.  Junior Brianne van Hattum says that she has learned about “The production of animals , breeds of different species, laws passed around animals and the animals purpose.”  Senior Kayla Arriaga says “We learn about the different aspects of the animal world from production to general husbandry of the species we are studying.”

This class is taught very similar to an average science class.  Van Hattum says “We do some labs and bookwork.”  These students are studying animals though, so what’s a better way to learn about animals, than to have animals there with you?  Van Hattum says “There is normally some sort of animal that we can look at.”

Some of the students are taking the class because they wish to pursue a career involving animals.  Arriaga says “In the fall I will be majoring in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at Purdue and that the animal science classes would be a great addition to my manuscript.”  Freshman Shelby Haisley also plans to use the information she learns in this class to prepare for a future career.  Haisley says “I plan on becoming a Veterinarian or an Animal Cop.  Knowing about these animals will help me understand the animals I will be helping.”

From poultry to cattle to swine to auquaculture, this class teaches a wide variety of animals in a span of two trimesters.