The FFA – a wonderfully student-run organization – is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. It is a requirement that a student must be enrolled in an agriculture class.
“The curriculum offers classes in Forestry and Natural Resources, Food Science and Technology, Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking, Agricultural Business, Agronomy and Soils, Advanced Agriculture, Introduction to Agriculture, Floral Design, SAE, Horticulture, and Greenhouse Management,” says educator Jamie Willson.
The students of Waynesburg FFA often do informative and entertaining demonstrations at local schools that reflect their interest in agricultural education. These educational experiences provide a deeper understanding to young students.
Jackson Fisher taught first graders about ice cream. Willson elaborated: “The goal of this lesson was to show that there is a lot of work that goes into making ice cream. It’s not just going to buy it already made from the store, or buying the ingredients to make it yourself, but it involves all the steps the farmer must do as well, like feeding and watering, cleaning pens, setting up the milkhouse and milkers…”
Daniel Brookover taught fifth graders the dynamics of what makes popcorn pop with three different types of kernels. One batch of kernels was soaked in water, another dehydrated in the oven, and the final batch of kernels was purchased from the store. Students kept track of how many kernels did not pop, the size of the kernels that did pop, their texture, and their taste. An interesting fact: it was the moisture inside the kernel that makes it pop when it reaches a certain temperature and goes from liquid to gas.
Peyton Cowell taught kindergarteners about sheep. “The goal of this lesson was to talk about what the wool from sheep is used for and the process that is used to shear a sheep for wool. They then got to participate in a shearing activity with shaving cream and a pair of cardboard shears.”
Many FFA members have been showing animals through 4-H since they were eight years old. The 4-H allows members to exhibit their animals until age 18, but FFA members can continue until they are 21. Students keep records through the years and make a transition from showing animals with 4-H to the FFA. To show animals after age 18, students must be enrolled in post-secondary education and maintain a C average.
“The students are the ones in charge. If there is something that they want to change, they bring it up and discuss it with the rest of the group. Prior to 1969, females were not allowed in the FFA, but a member brought it up as a delegate issue, and it made it all the way to the National Convention where it was adopted. [Now] the FFA has a large percentage of female members and advisors. In fact, this year, we have an all-female Chapter Officer team.”
The most valuable thing that the FFA does for our community is to create future leaders. Check out the FFA’s efforts at the Jacktown and Greene County fairs!