This document is the first volume of a state curriculum guide on vocational agriculture for use in the 9th and 10th grades in Louisiana. Three instructional areas are profiled in this volume: orientation to vocational agriculture, agricultural leadership, and soil science. The three units of the orientation area cover introducing beginning students to the total program in vocational agriculture, introducing students to the advanced program options (designed to prepare for occupational choices), and developing the individual supervised occupational experience program. The four units of the agricultural leadership area cover introduction to Future Farmers of America (FFA), awards and contests, leadership training, and participation in FFA activities. The soil science instructional area contains seven units covering soil formation, soil properties, soil acidity and liming, soil classification and land use evaluation, soil fertility and fertilization, soil water, and soil judging. Each unit contains one to several individual lessons, with student objectives (terminal and specific), suggested teaching materials, special arrangements for the teacher to make, tips on presenting the lesson, content outlines, and suggested student activities. An extensive section of transparency masters and accompanying scripts as well as student materials completes the units. Soil science tests are appended. (KC)