The Howard County school system is considering launching career academies in agriculture and design.

Organizers for the academies, which provide specialized courses, are gauging student interest in both fields -- the need for an agriculture academy championed by the Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation and demand for a fashion and interior design program, evidenced by the popularity of an existing elective course.

Both proposals are in exploratory stages and would require the ultimate approval of the Board of Education.

If approved, the academies would take about two years to develop, said Richard Weisenhoff, the coordinator of the school system's Career and Technology Education.

Howard County's Career Academies, which replaced the Tech Magnet program in recent years, currently include architecture and engineering; biotechnology and health services; business and entrepreneurship; culinary arts and hotel management; energy, power and transportation; human resources; and multimedia arts and information technology.

This spring, 550 seniors completed Career Academies, according to a report presented to the school board June 25.

According to Weisenhoff, the idea for a design academy is based on high demand for the elective course Fashion Technology.

The course, which enrolled about 200 students last school year, introduces high school students to the elements of design, textile science and construction, and careers in the apparel industry, from design and manufacturing to merchandising and marketing.

"There always seems to be interest in it," Weisenhoff said, adding that the popularity of TV shows like "Project Runway" and home makeover series could contribute to the draw.

The idea for an agriculture academy came from a suggestion by the Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation, which met with Superintendent Sydney Cousin in January, Weisenhoff said.

If established, the program would focus on natural resources and plant and animal science.

"If you expand your thinking a little bit beyond traditional farming, to include things like veterinary science, I think you see there is a need," he said.

Kathy Zimmerman, an agricultural marketing specialist for the Howard County Economic Development Authority who is helping to develop the academy, said there's a need, in general, for young people to recognize potential careers in agriculture.

According to Zimmerman, a local career academy would include courses for students interested in veterinary science, thanks partly to the number of horse farms in the region.

Aside from the equine industry, local agriculture careers include produce and nursery businesses, she said.

"Farms are becoming smaller," she said. "Farms are, specifically in this area, focusing on that locally grown aspect and that's how they're keeping their livelihood."

Zimmerman said she is pleased with the feedback from students she's seen so far. "The great thing about this, from my perspective, is there is an interest, there is an excitement about agriculture again," she said.

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