County pledges support to FFA programs
CHENANGO – Recognizing the value of continuing agriculture education programs throughout the region, the Chenango County Board of Supervisors is throwing support behind Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs in Chenango County school districts.
A resolution pledging continued support for FFA will go before members of the Board of Supervisors on Monday. Currently, FFA programs are implemented in DCMO BOCES as well as four Chenango County schools: Otselic Valley, Unadilla Valley, Afton, and Oxford.
The National FFA is an intracurricular organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agri-science education at the local, state and national levels.
More than 629,000 FFA members, aged 12-21, in 7,665 chapters in all 50 states. Nearly 75 percent of those members enroll in a two-year or four-year college program after high school, preparing them for one of hundreds of career opportunities available in agriculture.
“I look at my program not as a way to make sure kids have a job at the end of high school, but more as a way for my kids to learn all the different career facets that are available to them in agriculture,” said Betty Robinson, FFA advisor and agriculture teacher at the Otselic Valley Central School District. “It’s more of an introduction to jobs in agriculture.”
Otselic Valley has the highest margin of its students in FFA in the county. The organization recruited 42 high school kids this year, plus many more middle school aged kids in Junior FFA. The FFA program at OV teaches students hands-on skills in high demand fields such as welding, mechanical, tractor driving, and environmental studies, to name a few.
Nationwide, FFA members participate and learn advanced career skills in 49 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experiences ranging from agricultural communications and food science and technology, to turf grass management and wildlife production and management.
Aside from learning technical skills, students in FFA typically take on a number of community service programs, too.
“Our FFA will be leading a Veterans Day program in a few days. We also do two blood drives a year,” said Robinson.
And it’s all student-driven.
“What happens is not because of me. It’s because of my students,” Robinson added.
In light of its impact, the National FFA Foundation has garnered more than $200 million for the National FFA over the last 70 years. That leaves a tremendous economic impact that ultimately leads to a return on investment for many contributers. The estimated economic impact in Chenango County alone is more than $112,000,000.
Still, there are concerns about the future of FFA programs as agriculture education struggles for support in many schools.
“Historically, if there is a budget issue in a school, one of the first things to go has been agriculture program,” said Robinson. While that’s not an immediate threat in Chenango County, it does present challenges for FFA survival elsewhere. “Across the state, schools are looking for ag teachers. There’s a dire shortage of them. There’s just not enough to fill the need, and there’s a serious issue of who is going to replace current (ag) teachers when retire.”
A resolution pledging continued support for FFA will go before members of the Board of Supervisors on Monday. Currently, FFA programs are implemented in DCMO BOCES as well as four Chenango County schools: Otselic Valley, Unadilla Valley, Afton, and Oxford.
The National FFA is an intracurricular organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agri-science education at the local, state and national levels.
More than 629,000 FFA members, aged 12-21, in 7,665 chapters in all 50 states. Nearly 75 percent of those members enroll in a two-year or four-year college program after high school, preparing them for one of hundreds of career opportunities available in agriculture.
“I look at my program not as a way to make sure kids have a job at the end of high school, but more as a way for my kids to learn all the different career facets that are available to them in agriculture,” said Betty Robinson, FFA advisor and agriculture teacher at the Otselic Valley Central School District. “It’s more of an introduction to jobs in agriculture.”
Otselic Valley has the highest margin of its students in FFA in the county. The organization recruited 42 high school kids this year, plus many more middle school aged kids in Junior FFA. The FFA program at OV teaches students hands-on skills in high demand fields such as welding, mechanical, tractor driving, and environmental studies, to name a few.
Nationwide, FFA members participate and learn advanced career skills in 49 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experiences ranging from agricultural communications and food science and technology, to turf grass management and wildlife production and management.
Aside from learning technical skills, students in FFA typically take on a number of community service programs, too.
“Our FFA will be leading a Veterans Day program in a few days. We also do two blood drives a year,” said Robinson.
And it’s all student-driven.
“What happens is not because of me. It’s because of my students,” Robinson added.
In light of its impact, the National FFA Foundation has garnered more than $200 million for the National FFA over the last 70 years. That leaves a tremendous economic impact that ultimately leads to a return on investment for many contributers. The estimated economic impact in Chenango County alone is more than $112,000,000.
Still, there are concerns about the future of FFA programs as agriculture education struggles for support in many schools.
“Historically, if there is a budget issue in a school, one of the first things to go has been agriculture program,” said Robinson. While that’s not an immediate threat in Chenango County, it does present challenges for FFA survival elsewhere. “Across the state, schools are looking for ag teachers. There’s a dire shortage of them. There’s just not enough to fill the need, and there’s a serious issue of who is going to replace current (ag) teachers when retire.”
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