Ms. Berk continues to meet with students to discuss course requests and scheduling for the 23-24 school year, logging information in Elevate (a graduation requirement), and post-secondary readiness achievement.

Also, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students will complete Career and Technical Education End-of-Program (CTE EOP) assessments March 20th through 31st. Students who pass with a 70% or higher will earn articulated college credit at several Kentucky colleges and universities. Articulated credit means the student receives credit hours posted on college transcripts upon enrolling at the college/university. The assessments include 50% of questions focused on occupational skills in a specific area (e.g., horticulture) and 50% of questions focused on academic (e.g., literacy) and employability (e.g., interviewing) skills.

Students in the Pre-Veterinary Studies Program who will complete their third year of classes may take the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) assessment on April 27th. See Ms. Berk or Agriculture Instructor Mrs. Magsam for more details!

As always, visit Ms. Berk's website for many helpful resources, including a page devoted to scholarships and financial aid!

Students completed a survey about nonfiction books they would like to see added to our collection, ranging from biographies to true crime and even cookbooks! Library Media Specialist Mrs. Meredith Reed will begin working on adding to our collection.

Students participated in the February Book Club reading either McCauley's If These Wings Could Fly or Silvera's They Both Die at the End.

In March, students will read either Blackout, a collection of short stories, or Boulley's Firekeeper's Daughter, for Book Club. Listen to announcements for more information!

See below for information from each student-led committee serving LTAC!

• Celebration Committee - Please save the date for the FFA Chapter Banquet on Monday, May 15th! This Committee will work on planning this event, so stay tuned for more information.

• Community Service Committee - This Committee organized two service activities for February. Students created floral arrangements for Mug Monday during FFA Week and donated these to the Veteran's Affairs long-term care facility in our community. Students also volunteered at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Regional Finals of the American Rodeo! Watch for information about another community service opportunity in April.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee - This Committee celebrated Black History Month in February with weekly trivia questions, posters around the school, and activities during Trace Day honoring black excellence in agriculture. The Committee will partner with Jr. MANRRS to offer an event to celebrate Women's History Month in March!

• Employability Committee - Please save the date for Friday, May 5th! On this Trace Day, students will meet with experts working in the field of agriculture and showcase their SAEs! Families may visit during the evening of Thursday, May 4th to view students' SAEs. Stay tuned for more information!

• Fundraiser Committee - Thank you for supporting our strawberry fundraiser. Students will begin distribution of orders on March 6th! Please make sure you pick-up your strawberries from campus on March 6th or 7th! Students will brainstorm for additional fundraisers to finish the school year.

• Public Engagement Committee - This Committee successfully hosted the FFA Alumni Chili Supper and Auction, earning $12,000 for our FFA Chapter! See below for photos. This Committee next will partner with the Employability Committee on the career fair/SAE showcase.

• Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Committee - This Committee next will partner with the Employability and Public Engagement Committees on the career fair/SAE showcase.

• Wellness Committee - This Committee has planned a Trace Day focused on wellness--stay tuned for more information, as this event will take place toward the end of the school year.

We held our local prepared public speaking contest! 42 students competed in various agricultural areas then winners went on to compete at the Spencer County Invitational. See below for results and a photo.

• Conduct of Meetings Team - 3rd Place
• Parliamentary Procedure Team - 1st Place
• Prepared Public Speaking (Beef) - 1st Place, Kat Hudson
• Prepared Public Speaking (Floral Design) - 2nd Place, Lillian Finney
• Prepared Public Speaking (Turf and Lawn Management) - 3rd Place, Noah Schuer

Students will participate in the Bluegrass Region FFA Day on March 14th!

In February, Kalisa Watson presented about Valentine's Day celebrations around the world during a virtual meeting.

On March 23rd at 5:00 p.m. in the Library Media Center, we will induct seven new members to the Society!

Our new officers will plan an event to collaborate with the Fayette County Conservation District for tree bagging to celebrate Earth Day!

Please email President Kylee Pierre if you have suggestions for future Trace Days! Jr. MANRRS members will partner with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee to plan events during Women's History Month to celebrate women in agriculture.

Our yearbook staff has completed student portraits for the year. Classroom reporters also continue to document all the great things happening around campus.

See below for information on ordering the 22-23 LTAC yearbook!

Students in Small Power and Equipment (Level 1) have learned to read and use dial calipers and micrometers; next, these students will reassemble their engines. Students in Agriculture Power and Machinery Operation (Level 2) have repaired a John Deere with overheating issues. Soon these students will finish stick welding and move on to wire welding. Students in Agriculture Construction Skills and Agriculture Structures and Designs (Level 3) have learned to weld vehicles and nearly finished the smoker. Soon these students will begin building bale spears for sale and painting and rewiring a cattle trailer.

On the farm, the students work on plans for seeding and fertilizing fields for the cows and the paddocks for the horses. BoydCat will host a machinery bootcamp on campus from Monday, April 17th through Friday, April 21st. Students will get to test out large equipment then!

Students in Equine Science (Level 1) have learned about equine nutrition and will soon visit with a nutritionist from McCauley Bros. Feed, even having the opportunity to weigh our horses here on campus! Next, students will learn all about equine facilities, designing facilities using Minecraft.

Students in Agribusiness and Farm Management (Level 2) have learned how to foal out a mare and taken a trip to Three Chimneys Farm to see their breeding shed and learn how a commercial thoroughbred breeding farm operates. Next, they will learn about diseases and how to prevent them, especially working in the Equine Arena/Barn with bandaging horses.

Students in Agriculture Sales and Marketing (Level 3) worked on marketing plans and then will create one-pagers to market themselves for potential jobs at local horse farms! Next, they will learn all about the racing industry, even taking an experiential learning trip to Keeneland.

A special thanks to Tannare Brown, Joslin Esparza, Manuel Hernandez Carreon, and Makenzie Menges for representing LTAC at the recent Career and Technical Education showcases at The Kentucky Capitol and The Galt House Hotel. See below for photos with the Commissioner of Education for Kentucky Dr. Jason Glass and Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education member Mrs. Amy Green.

Students have cured and prepared pork butts to make bacon; next, students will experiment with creating both ice cream and bread in bags in the Food Science and Processing Program classes.

In Animal Science, students have practiced livestock management techniques, including tagging, injections, and docking, with the ewes with lambs in the Livestock Barn.

Students planning to show livestock during Summer 2023 have visited with producers throughout the state to locate competitive animals. In order to participate, students must own an animal by May 15th, as the showing season will begin at the end of May.

Students in Veterinary Science (Level 1) have learned radiology skills, practicing positioning patients for chest and abdominal radiographs. Next, students will learn about rabies awareness, including the transmission, prevention, and vaccine protocols for veterinary professionals and companion animals.

Students in Small Animal Technology (Level 2) learned surgical assisting skills, including completing a surgical suite log, removing sutures, and taping intravenous catheters, and pharmacology. Next, students will focus on terminology, including root words, prefixes, and suffixes for common procedures and vaccines.

Students in Animal Technology (Level 3) mastered ectoparasites and endoparasites and fecal analysis skills for small and large animals. Next, students will earn about hematology, discuss the reproductive system, and participate in some dissections.

Congratulations to Agriculture Instructor Mrs. Ally Thompson as she prepares to welcome her first child with husband Mr. Jason Thompson! Mrs. Thompson has begun her maternity leave. Students in her classes will complete coursework via an online learning platform iCEV and have assistance from a long-term substitute teacher with a background in agriculture. Mrs. Thompson has reviewed with students expectations and how to access iCEV. We wish her and her family well!

Students prepared nearly 75 bud vases for Valentine's Day! Thank you for your support of this fundraiser for the Plant Science Institute! Watch for information about our Spring greenhouse sale!

Students also have started work on plans for cut flower gardens and will begin Spring bee hive inspections soon.

In AgriScience, students continue their agriscience projects. Students must have all projects finished by March 24th! Students also made ice cream based on what they have learned regarding dairy milk and dairy alternatives.

In Agriculture Communications, students practiced prepared public speeches specific to their Institutes/Programs. Students also have learned about agriculture communications through social media and next will prepare social media plans for LTAC events, student recruitment, and Institute/Program Advisory Committees.

In Principles of Agricultural Science and Technology, students have finished learning about the AET program required for logging all agricultural activities. Students also have learned about the Agricultural Engineering Institute, including nonrenewable and renewable energy resources; how to measure volts, watts, and amps; and how to identify various tools. Next, students will learn about the Food Science and Processing Program, including food agencies, chemistry, pathogens, and grading eggs. Students will have the opportunity to make butter and candle eggs.

Students have learned about the components of healthy relationships and demonstrated their knowledge through a relationship case study. Students identified potential red flags then made decisions about restoring relationships based on communication and conflict management skills.

Next, students will learn about human anatomy and reproduction.

Students in all levels of Spanish honored famous bi/multi-racial Latinos who also have black ancestry during Black History Month. In Spanish 2, students learned through a reading activity to practice verb use and idioms. In Spanish 3, students practiced informal commands and object pronouns with games like Kahoot!, Gimkit, and Pictionary.

Soon students in Spanish 1 will practice more verbs and infinitives. Spanish 2 students will practice with additional verbs and infinitives by recording a video in Spanish about completing common chores at home and school. And, students in Spanish 3 will practice with the imperfect tense through reading a short story.

Students in Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts presented their projects over a musician of their choice and practiced research skills. Next, they will make movie trailers to demonstrate knowledge of dramatic literary and technical elements.

Students in United States History completed an assessment covering content knowledge of World War II and the interwar years. Next, they will analyze primary source documents to write a document-based question.

Students in World History demonstrated their knowledge of the Age of Revolutions and next also will analyze primary source documents to write a document-based question.

At the Greenhand and Chapter Degree Ceremony, we recognized the following students as PACK leaders who consistently demonstrate positivity, ambition, courage, and kindness! Congratulations!

• Kai Baker
• Eden Fluharty
• Jackson High
• Addison Hillard
• Emily Miller
• Ian Recktenwald
• Quay Slaughter
• Jazmin Tenoria

Community Partnerships Liaison Mrs. Nicki Jones will send out surveys to local businesses and individuals about hosting Work-Based Learning interns for the 23-24 school year. If you have any suggestions for contacts, please let her know.

Mrs. Jones will meet with students in April to complete applications to participate in Work-Based Learning during the 23-24 school year. Please listen for announcements about the application process to secure your placement at the work site you want!

Students serving as interns at The Kentucky Castle have planted cool crops in the high tunnel and started garden vegetables in the greenhouse. They also hosted two Lunch and Learns in February and welcomed Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky Ryan Quarles for a visit! See the below photos. Students will host one last Lunch and Learn in March.

• Email the Attendance Specialist.
• Email the Counselor.
• Email the Library Media Specialist.

Mission: To grow ALL students into leaders who serve and advocate for the future of agriculture.

Vision: Together students discover their passion and unlock their potential through Leadership, Teamwork, Agriculture, and Community.

Run with the PACK:

be Positive, Ambitious, Courageous, and Kind!

Email: catherine.vannatter@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: fcps.net/locusttrace
Location: 3591 Leestown Road, Lexington, KY 40511
Phone: 859-381-3990
Facebook: facebook.com/locusttraceac
Twitter: @LocustTraceAC