WIS001 INTRODUCTION TO FOOD & FIBER AND NATURAL RESOURCES 02/23/1990 01:01 PM D1 77 Lines Foreword Agriculture in the United States has changed significantly in the past century with the increased efficiency of farmers and ranchers in producing food and other agricultural goods. Not only are fewer people involved in raising crops and livestock, American agricultural commodities and products are finding their way into more and more foreign and domestic markets. In addition, science, engineering, business, communication, and natural resources play a strong and expanding role in the agriculture industry. As agriculture evolves and an increasing number of students with urban and nonfarm backgrounds become involved in agriculture education, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction took the lead in providing "A Guide to Curriculum Planning in Agriculture Education" to help educators keep pace with the rapidly changing agriculture industry. Now, educators have a new resource with "Instruction for Food and Fiber and Natural Resources". This book is a collection of instructional units designed to help educators develop, modify, and expand their agriculture education curriculum. These units, developed and field tested by Wisconsin agriculture educators, expand upon the curriculum model presented in the DPI's guide. Teachers of agriculture education can adapt these instructional units to fit their district's unique needs and concerns. In addition, this publication offers suggestions for motivational classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory experiences, and supervised experience programs that will inspire and reinforce secondary students' interest in agriculture. As the food and fiber industry endeavors to meet increasing, worldwide demand for affordable, high-quality products, let us give our students the encouragement and opportunities they need to prepare for this important challenge. Herbert J. Grover State Superintendent