Agricultural education changes lives in schools and communities

As a Career and Technical Education teacher at HEM Jr./Sr. High School I often find myself asking what students are planning to do after high school graduation. "I'm just going back to the ranch," one student answered. I promptly reprimanded the student for considering pursuits in production agriculture an option of dishonor. Students should be proud to be involved in the agricultural industry and agricultural courses strive to support those pursuits.

Realms of Participation

Participation in agricultural education goes far beyond the four walls of the school and involves experience in three realms: classroom learning, Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE), and FFA. These components each work in synergy with the others to generate the whole agricultural education experience and each would not be successful without the others. The primary goal of this "three-circle model" is to prepare students for careers in the industry through practical experience in high school.

Work-Based Learning

Supervised Agriculture Experiences or SAE's are individual student work-based learning projects. Students can initiate a project in Entrepreneurship, Placement (a job in the community), Foundational (job shadowing), or Agriscience Research. Throughout these experiences students are required to keep a record of their efforts through financial or time-based records. At the culmination of a project students have the opportunity to earn proficiency awards or degree recognition through FFA participation.

Career Development

But FFA participation provides many other career development opportunities. Each year students participate in Career Development Event contests at the state level. This gives them the chance to put their knowledge to the test against their peers from around the state. The real value of these events can be found in the learning that occurs in preparing for the contests. The local FFA program also strives to be a light in the community providing services for citizens, agricultural literacy for children, and personal growth opportunities for students.

School to Community

Agricultural Education and FFA are school-based programs yet they reach every corner of the community. SAE projects contribute to the economy and prepare students to fill industrial needs in the community. FFA experiences take students out of the community to gain perspective and return to serve their home with a new focus. Agriculture classes help students discover that the world is vast beyond their community. Agricultural Education is a powerful resource for community development and its presence in schools is essential for student growth.

Personal Growth

Beyond what agricultural education and FFA can do for a community, this teacher is in awe of what it has done for individual students. Shy seventh graders become assertive high school leaders. Apathetic kids become motivated, critical thinking young adults. Lonely teenagers become a part of a family. Public speaking, decision making, and interpersonal growth are often overlooked as byproducts of FFA participation, but it is the development of those skills in my students that gives me hope for a better tomorrow.

Find Out

Have a conversation with an FFA member or alumni about their experience with this life changing organization. I am sure they will not be able to express its immeasurable influence in words. So instead, get involved! Contact your local FFA advisor, volunteer funding, time, or expertise. Work alongside students, teachers, agriculturalists and other community partners to get a glimpse of the impact agricultural education has on all who are connected to its pursuits. FFA members believe "in the future of agriculture with a faith born not of words but of deeds," (The FFA Creed) so join us in taking action make the world around us a better place to live and work.