FFA: BEYOND FARMING 



HORTICULTURAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE FOR A LIFETIME 



Maria VanderWoude 



OVER 400,000 mCH SCHOOL STUDENTS are 

 preparing themselves for careers in the science, busi- 

 ness and technology of agriculture through participa- 

 tion in an organization known as the FFA. The FFA 

 is a national youth organization dedicated to develop- 

 ing leadership, cooperation, and citizenship for tomor- 

 row's agriculturalists, and it is alive and well here in 

 the Granite State. New Hampshire has 16 local FFA 

 chapters, and 637 members, in high schools across 

 the state. 



In order to become an FFA member, a student 

 must first be enrolled in an agricultural education 

 course. High schools offering ag ed do so in one or 

 more of the following areas: Production Agriculture/ 

 Animal Science, Agricultural Mechanics, Forest/Natu- 

 ral Resources, or Horticulture. It is interesting to 

 note that all 16 schools boasting an FFA chapter also 

 offer course in horticulture! Typically, these programs 

 cover topics in greenhouse management, landscaping, 

 floriculture, and general plant science, but may also 

 include units such as pesticides and orchard science. 



Some students of horticulture are at first reluctant 

 to join the FFA, believing that all FFA members are 

 "Future Farmers". At one time this was true, but as 

 high school agriculture programs, have grown to en- 

 compass more than production ag, so has the FFA. In 

 fact, FFA no longer stands for "Future Farmers of 

 America" — it is now know simply as "FFA". Founded 

 in 1928 as an organization for boys, the FFA is now 

 24.63% girls (27.63% in NH) and has chapters in all 

 50 states and several U.S. terrirories. 



FFA provides young people with programs in 

 public speaking and parliamentary procedure, skills 

 contests, community leadership, personal achieve- 

 ment, and other areas. For example, on October 31st, 

 the University of New Hampshire (Thompson School) 

 hosted the NH FFA's Fall Interscholastic Competi- 

 tions. Students were invited to participate in seven 

 different contests, including horticulture. In this con- 

 test, FFA'ers took a written test, judged nursery 

 stock, repotted plants using acceptable procedures, 

 and identified woody and herbaceous plants. Re- 

 cently, members also had the chance to test their 

 horticultural knowledge in a contest at the Roches- 

 ter Fair, and will have yet another opportunity at 

 UNH their spring at the Floriculture and Nursery/ 

 Landscape Contests. 



FFA contests which develop leadership skills in- 

 clude the Job Interview Contest, where participants 

 "apply" for a job; Extemporaneous Public Speaking, in 

 which students have 30 minutes to prepare a four to 

 six minute speech. Parliamentary Procedure, where 

 teams compete to solve problems using parliamentary 

 law; and the Ag Sales and/or Service contest which 

 tests skills in the service aspect of the ag industry. 



The FFA also offers "Proficiency Award" in 29 

 areas, including Floriculture, Fruit and/or Vegetable 

 Production, Nursery Operations, Specialty Crop 

 Production, and Turf and Landscape Management. 

 Members fill our a detailed application which fully 



describes all aspects, including financial, of their job 

 or project. Winners at the state level receive $100 

 and a framed certificate, and are then eligible to com- 

 pete at the national level. 



FFA'ers may also apply for recognition as a chap- 

 ter, state, or American "Star," for their achievement 

 in volunteerism, for their efforts in using computers 

 in agriculture, or for one of the National FFA Organi- 

 zations's numerous scholarships. The FFA can offer 

 its many contest and award programs because of the 

 support of the agricultural community, both finan- 

 cially and physically as agriculturists offer their ex- 

 pertise as coaches and judges. 



This month, FFA members form across the state 

 travel to Kansas City, Missouri, for the 65th National 

 FFA Convention. Over 24,000 FFA members and 

 guests are expected to attend this, the world's largest 

 student convention. Granite State FFA'ers from the 

 following towns will be competing in nine different 

 national contests: Northwood, Alstead, Dover, Hud- 

 son, and Exeter. In addition, Bruce Scamman of the 

 Exeter Chapter will be receiving his American FFA 

 Degree and is a National Officer Candidate. Students 

 form several other NH towns will be participating in 

 the conventions as well. 



Even those students who never compete in a 

 contest are bound to benefit from the FFA experi- 

 ence. FFA is a vital component of agricultural educa- 

 tion, so that in a good program, all ag ed students 

 will learn and profit from FFA. For example, in order 

 to apply for an award in the FFA, a student must 

 have accurate records for hours worked, money 

 earned and invested, equipment, tools, and supplies, 

 school, community, and FFA activities, etc. Record 

 keeping skills, which should be taught as part of an 

 ag course, are essential in FFA; conversely, FFA 

 awards are an incentive for students to learn and use 

 the skills being taught in class. 



Many of NH's horticulture teachers own landscap- 

 ing, greenhouse or other related businesses, or work 

 in the industry during the summer. As a result, they 

 are very attuned to what potential employers are 

 looking for in their employees, and attempt to impart 

 this knowledge and these skills to their students. 

 Employers in towns surrounding schools where ag ed/ 

 FFA is offered are quick to call the school when it 

 comes time for hiring; many employers prefer to hire 

 FFA members as it not only means less time spent 

 training, but they can also be sure the student has 

 explored the field of work and has a true interest in 

 the area. 



Although a student may spend only a few years in 

 the FFA, experience proves that the knowledge and 

 skills gained will last a lifetime. As the industry of 

 agriculture is faced with new challenges every day, so 

 does the FFA prepare its members to meet these ob- 

 stacles with the tools needed to win. 

 Maria VanderWoude is Executive Secretary, Granite State 

 Association. FFA. She can be reached at (603) 783-9598. 



December 1992 & January 1993 

 13 



