Why Your Ag Program Needs SOPs—Not Just Rules

rootedcurriculum
Jul 28
4 min read

We spend the first week of school teaching our students the rules. We go over expectations, model procedures, and maybe—just maybe—revisit them after a long weekend or holiday break.

And that’s good teaching.

But what we sometimes forget is: Those rules and expectations are systems.

They’re how we set the tone. They’re how we create structure. And when we’re not clear and consistent with those systems, things fall apart—fast.

Students thrive off routine and clarity. Adults do, too.

The Year I Learned That Systems Weren’t Just for Students

I still remember the year our principal required all teachers to turn in an emergency sub folder before the first day of school.

Honestly, I rolled my eyes at the time. Between prepping curriculum, cleaning the land lab, hanging up posters, and catching my breath from summer PDs, the last thing I wanted to worry about was a worst-case scenario.

But two weeks into the school year, I came down with food poisoning and couldn’t make it through a single class without throwing up. That emergency sub folder? It saved me in that little moment.

Granted—it was bare bones at that time. Just a stack of generic worksheets and a note that rosters could be picked up from the front office.

But it got me thinking…

What happens if I’m out and the sub walks into a room full of plants needing watered, animals needing fed, or students turning in permission slips and field trip money?

The answer? Chaos. And probably a dead rabbit or two (yikes).

Enter: SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)

At the time, I didn’t know what an SOP even was. It wasn’t until I started working in the business world that the acronym started showing up everywhere.

But once I connected the dots back to teaching, it was like everything clicked.

An SOP is a Standard Operating Procedure. It’s a simple set of written instructions that explain how to complete a task from start to finish—consistently, safely, and effectively.

In the business world, SOPs are how companies ensure quality, train employees, and scale their operations.

In the classroom—especially in ag education—SOPs can do the exact same thing.

Why SOPs Matter in an Ag Program

Think about your classroom like a small business.

You’ve got animals to care for, equipment to manage, FFA events to run, communication to keep up with, and about a hundred other moving parts.

And if every single one of those tasks relies on you to explain it, do it, or double-check it…You will burn out. Fast.

Here’s where SOPs come in.

With a clear SOP, your FFA treasurer knows exactly how to log receipts. Your students know the steps to check their grades or turn in late work. A substitute knows how to safely handle animal care or manage a greenhouse. Your student aide can help train the next aide—without you repeating yourself for the hundredth time.

This isn't about perfection. It's about creating repeatable systems that make your life easier and your program more sustainable.

Industry Tools You Can Steal for the Classroom

In the world of training and operations, SOPs are just one piece of the puzzle. Here are a few more tools worth knowing (and using):

One Point Lessons (OPLs): A quick, focused mini-lesson (usually visual) that teaches a single concept or task. Think: How to water greenhouse flats properly.
Work Instructions: A step-by-step guide for more technical or equipment-based tasks. Think: How to use the plasma cutter.
Visual Aids: Charts, signs, pictures—anything that visually communicates a task or expectation. Think: Feed schedules or PPE posters.

You don’t need to create all of these at once. In fact—please don’t. And don't do it all alone.

Don’t Overwhelm Yourself. Start Simple.

This isn’t about becoming a corporate training manager overnight. It’s about creating clarity—for you and for your students.

Start with the 2–3 tasks that cause you the most stress or that get repeated over and over. Build SOPs or visual aids for those.

Over time, you’ll build a system that trains itself—and that means fewer repeated questions, smoother sub days, and less chaos in your day-to-day.

Want Help Building Your Systems?

That’s exactly what we’re focusing on this August ('25) inside the Community Garden Professional Development membership by Rooted in the Classroom.

August’s Challenge: System Setup for Sanity is designed to help ag teachers like you:

Build realistic systems for your classroom and FFA program
Write SOPs for common tasks
Create an onboarding checklist for students (yes—even for that mid-year transfer!)
Delegate responsibilities to your officer team, student aides, or volunteers
Block time on your calendar to get the right things done

And yes—everything is built with you in mind. Not just your students.

Inside the membership, you’ll get a printable workbook, done-for-you templates, and bonus tools you can actually use—not just print and forget.

Enrollment closes Labor Day Weekend (2025) and won’t reopen until 2026. So if you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time.

You don’t have to run your whole program alone. You just need better systems.

Let’s build them—together. Join us here.

PS: If you don't want to have to start an emergency sub folder from scratch...Rooted in the Classroom has one ready for you to plug in your information and print. You can find it here or search through the sub-friendly resources in the TPT storefront.