My Philosophy of Agricultural Education

After growing up in a rural, 2A, small town, I have learned that there are many challenges that face the FFA and agriculture today. When I was a sophomore in high school, our agriculture department was challenged with  downsizing from a two-teacher ag science department to a one-teacher department. This would include depleting the horticulture and some of the welding courses offered at my school. My father was the lead ag instructor at that time and this obstacle was something that we had to fight to keep in our school. The question was asked “Are there enough members in the FFA?”  I have learned first hand about what exactly an ag science teacher does and faces and I know that it is not an easy task. However, I also believe that FFA today is stronger than it’s ever been. There is more support and dedication to this organization than any other youth organization in the world. In the famous words of E.M. Tiffany, “ I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words, but of deeds.” The FFA creed has made a big impact on my life. It has taught me many great things about agriculture and the FFA. The creed has instilled values in me that no other poem can and this is where I receive my drive for daily success. The verse “not of words, but of deeds” greatly sums up the fact that actions speak louder than words and this nation thrives off of truth, courage, and strong heritage.

To me, there are three parts that make a chapter successful as a whole. They are Instruction, FFA, and SAE. I will describe each of these to you and list why they are important as well as the impact they have on our future. All three units are of equal importance and you must have one to be successful in the others. Instruction is important because students must first and foremost learn the basics. They must learn exactly why we do some of the things we do in the FFA and in agriculture. Without instruction there would be no learning because learning cannot take place without being taught something.  Instruction is the foundation for knowledge and growth in agriculture and it is critical!

Next is the FFA. The FFA has expanded my horizons and molded me into the person that I am today. It teaches you many life skills that will follow you through your entire journey of life. Whether it is livestock judging, public relations, chapter conducting, or job interview. The FFA has so many events to offer and it teaches students who they truly are. Through my past experiences in the FFA, I now have the desired traits to be successful in the competitive job market. Not only has the FFA prepared me for certain events, it also taught me other life skills such as team cooperation, dealing with financial situations specifically with fundraisers, and time management. The FFA is an organization that simply goes above and beyond the call of duty and teaches students to excel in whatever they choose.

Next is SAE and this is also a very important part of agriculture. SAE stands for Supervised Agricultural Experience and this also teaches student many things. SAE is a process that students can learn from and take with them in their future. SAE teaches patience on the students’ part, guidance on the advisors part, and even cooperation with the parents. SAE is a great way to get involved and do something on a personal and individual level. After all three have been tied together (Instruction, FFA, and SAE) nothing but success can happen.

I feel that future of agriculture looks extremely bright and hopeful. The FFA is currently the largest it’s ever been and there are more people in the world than ever before. I predict that the FFA organization will only grow and prosper in the future and that numbers and involvement will increase as well. I believe that there will always be challenges and hard times that we face in life. It is how we handle those hard times that make us stronger and molds us into the people we are today. It is how we face those challenges and fight them down that will keep us stronger as an organization. I am excited to see where the future of agriculture is going and am determined to make it better. I also am excited about becoming a teacher and hopefully making an impact on other students just as this organization made an impact on me.