What parent doesn’t want their child to grow into a productive citizen, one with the talents necessary to succeed in life? We all hope that skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork and time management will be learned during the 13-plus years a student spends in school. Often, unfortunately, they are not. Extracurricular activities such as 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other programs can be an excellent means for children to develop such abilities. But what if you could be assured that your child would get these skills during the school day?
FFA is a youth leadership organization that is integral to agricultural education. In other words, it’s intracurricular, not extracurricular (although many supplemental activities take place outside of the school day). And the good news? Any high school student in New Hampshire is entitled to enroll in agriculture classes, even if they’re not offered at his or her school. Merrimack Valley High School students who wish to take ag and participate in the FFA are enrolled in the Winnisquam Agricultural Center. Every day, they board a bus headed for Tilton, where they take part in a 90 minute agriculture class, then return to MV to complete their school day.
Why is it important for students to learn about agriculture? First and foremost, all of us, every day, are consumers of agriculture. It’s vital for individuals to understand where their food, clothing and many other everyday items come from. Secondly, agriculture is about much more than production farming. The term “agricultural education” encompasses topics such as greenhouse management, floral design, landscaping, forestry, small animal care, and wildlife management. At Winnisquam, students start out with a course called “Agricultural Science and Technology” where they learn a bit about all of these subjects, as well as leadership, personal finance, and much more. In their second year of the program, they choose to focus on either Natural Resources or Animal and Plant Science, where they study these topics at a greater depth.
So, what is FFA? Founded in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, FFA is the largest student-led organization in the world with over 630,000 members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Today, although the letters still stand for Future Farmers of America, the group is known simply as the National FFA Organization to better reflect the diversity of members’ interests. FFA members participate in a wide variety of activities and Career Development Events designed to help them grow as leaders and develop an understanding of agriculture. In New Hampshire, there are 12 FFA Chapters in high schools across the state. The Winnisquam FFA Chapter is one of the most active, participating in nearly every event offered by the state association. To learn more about the FFA, visit www.nhffa.org or ffa.org .
How can your child get involved? In late winter, sophomores at Merrimack Valley are presented with information about the Winnisquam Ag Center. At that time, they can choose to sign up for Ag Science & Technology for their junior year. They will also be required to fill out a short application. The program is available to all students, no matter their achievement level. Most ag program completers (those who finish the two-year sequence) go on to college, although many jump right into the job market or the military. Regardless of post-secondary plans, ag ed and FFA provide students with a strong foundation for career success!
Please visit the Winnisquam Ag Center’s Web site at sites.google.com/a/wrsdsau59.org/ag-center/home to view our video, learn more about the classes, and download a program application. Email Maria VanderWoude, Student Services Coordinator, at mvanderwoude@nullwrsdsau59.org for more information or to set up a tour of the facility.