Future Farmers of America Organization.

¶ … Future Farmers of America organization. Specifically it will discuss the influence of the National FFA Organization on agriculture education. The National Future Farmers of American (FFA) is organized around an educational model, and its influence over agricultural education is exceedingly important. In fact, the organization originated to help educate high school students in the ways of farming, and it has recently moved into middle schools, as well.

The FFA Motto is, "Learning to Do / Doing to Learn / Earning to Live / Living to Serve" (Editors, 2008). The entire FAA framework is molded around education and agriculture, and most of the FFA activities take place in the schools. Students learn through structured activities, and there is always an adult adviser/teacher present during after school meetings and extra-curricular events. FFA is also moving into the collegiate level with a program called Collegiate LifeKnowledge (CLK), where college students teach others valuable agricultural information.

According to the National FAA Web site, more than 11,000 educators are involved in FFA in their local schools. They teach everything from agriscience to horticulture and farm machinery mechanics, and the FFA supports career development education, as well. One of the biggest challenges facing the FFA today is the shortage of agriculture teachers, and they are attempting to lead more students into teaching in the future (Editors, 2008). Another challenge is keeping rural young people interested in farming and agriculture. Another writer comments on one FFA member attending a seminar sponsored by a rural Minnesota bank. He writes, "One of them -- among the brightest, in fact -- said she had no interest in farming and agribusiness if the main goal of such a career was learning how to manipulate government support payments. She wanted to find an entrepreneurial niche in farming" (Kohl, 2002, p. 20). Many students enter FFA to learn about alternate careers in agriculture, such as environmental or food-related careers, which the organization also promotes. There are over 500,000 current members in the organization (Editors, 2008).

The FAA influences agricultural education in a variety of ways. They offer programs and educational opportunities throughout the school year and beyond, and they prepare students for the challenges of a career in some form of agriculture, from working on a farm to working in science, biology, or environmental areas. Several researchers note, "Over the course of a year, FFA clubs and members within those clubs have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and competitions that involve working toward a goal" (Larson, Hansen & Walker, 2005, p. 165). Thus, the programs teach young people about setting and reaching goals, and other management techniques, as well.

The FAA sponsors a significant scholarship program to influence agricultural education, as well. They give away about $2 million each year, and in 2008, over 1600 students received FFA scholarships in one form or another. There are also some limited scholarships available to non-members of the FFA, and all of the scholarships can be used at various educational institutions across the country. The organization received 8,400 requests for scholarships in 2008, indicating there is still a broad interest in this form of education (Editors, 2008).

In addition to scholarships, the organization also funds numerous grants each year, and most of these grants go to local programs or educational projects. They sponsor many other agricultural educational endeavors, and two of the members of the Board of Directors are employed by the U.S. Department of Education (Editors, 2008). Thus, the organization really does influence agricultural education at the national, state, and local levels. They offer scholarships, grants, and learning programs from middle school through college, and they encourage leadership and other skills as part of that process.