From Dirt to Dinner
Understanding agriculture from the ground up
Class Options (meets once/week)
(Wed-3) 12:05-1:25
Pre-Requisites
None
One-Time Class Fee
$40
Course Description
Agriculture shapes our world in powerful ways—often without us even realizing it. From the food on our plates to the clothes we wear and the fuel that moves us, agriculture touches every part of daily life. This course invites students to uncover the science, systems, and stories behind it all—no farm background required.
Students will dive into the Five Fs of Agriculture: Food, Fiber, Flowers, Forestry, and Fuel, discovering how these essential resources are grown, managed, and delivered through complex agricultural systems. By exploring crop science, animal production, and modern supply chains, students will trace the journey from dirt to dinner—and far beyond.
This class brings learning to life by connecting agriculture to core academic skills. Students will apply biology, math, engineering, economics, entrepreneurship, and communication to real-world challenges, analyzing data, solving problems, and thinking creatively about the future of food and sustainability.
By blending hands-on learning with big-picture thinking, students will build lasting agricultural literacy—empowering them to be informed consumers, thoughtful citizens, and confident decision-makers who understand how agriculture impacts communities, economies, and the world at large.
Homework
Homework will include a mix of reading, research, videos, writing, and occasional at-home experiments or hands-on activities. Assignments will build on topics covered in class and may also include preparation for upcoming lessons. Periodic trips to the grocery store will be required for select assignments.
To personalize learning, students will receive a semester activity sheet with a variety of options aligned to their interests. Each activity will be assigned a point value, and students may choose which activities to complete in order to reach the required total number of points.
On average, students can expect to spend approximately 2–3 hours per week on homework.
Graduation Requirements
Notes
Field Trips
Oklahoma is rich in agricultural diversity, and we’ll take advantage of this with optional field trips offered outside of class time. Did you know Oklahoma is home to a shrimp farm—and the world’s largest canna lily farm? Students may also have opportunities to visit a beekeeping operation, dairy farm, cotton gin, or pecan orchard.
Field trip selections will be based on availability and student interest. Transportation will not be provided; however, we will work to coordinate carpools whenever possible.
Contact the instructor with questions.
Required Books & Materials
(Students are responsible for purchasing textbooks unless stated otherwise.)
Hero for the Hungry: The Life and Work of Norman Borlaug
Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on My Family Farm
For the third book, students will select one approved title focused on an area of personal interest, such as agricultural history, specific crops, economics, animal science, technology, regenerative agriculture, or policy.