FFA chapters mirror growth and changes in the agriculture industry

As the field of agriculture has expanded and become more technnology-based, so has the scope of Future Farmers of America chapters.

FFA started at Kelly High School in Benton, Missouri, when the school opened for the 1956-57 school year. At the time, many FFA participants went on to farm for a living, says Jeff Scherer, agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Kelly High School.

"Now, very few of the students I have in class go into farming, but agriculture has changed as far as job opportunities since then," he says. "There are a lot of other ag fields that they go into."

Today's agriculture field encompasses ag technology, horticulture, food sciences, landscaping, research development, seed development, fertilizers, construction and much more, says Scherer, who has led the school's FFA chapter for 14 years. The Benton chapter usually has between 60 and 70 students with a pretty even mix of boys and girls, he says.

"The organization is no longer just for future farmers; it is for anyone who is going to pursue an agricultural career," says James McCormack, agriculture instructor and FFA adviser at Jackson High School. "We have 115 active FFA members about 60 percent are male and 40 percent are female. We have many students interested in traditional topics such as agricultural mechanics, livestock and crops, but a growing number are interested in hydroponics and other horticulture-related fields."

Some of Jackson's FFA projects have included setting up the stage for the Homecomers celebration, working with elementary school students during Farm Day at Flickerwood Arena and cleaning up the streets of Jackson after the Bicentennial Wagon Parade. The chapter attends career development events at the district and state levels and attends the state and national FFA conventions, says McCormack. Students also attend the Missouri FFA Leadership Camp Rising Sun at Lake of the Ozarks.

"FFA is a valuable organization for young people because it broadens their horizons," says McCormack. "FFA not only gives students knowledge and skills about agriculture; it also teaches them leadership and communication skills to help them spread knowledge about agriculture. The FFA's mission statement is 'FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.'"

As students attend conventions, compete in contests and work together on projects, they're also learning public speaking and teamwork skills, says Scherer, as well as the importance of community involvement.

The Kelly FFA helps set up and clean up from Benton Neighbor Days, leads recycling efforts on the high school campus, teaches area students about helmet safety, farm animals and ecology, and host a fish fry at the end of National FFA Week in February. They also team up with the Scott County Women in Agriculture for their annual farm day in April. In February, FFA toured the Monsanto Co. headquarters in St. Louis.

"Agriculture is the largest industry in the U.S., and students sometimes don't know they're interested in a career in that field until they get in a class and see some of the things involved there," says Scherer. "You don't have to like being outdoors, you can hate being on a farm, but you can still be involved agriculture. With FFA, students get the opportunity to see things -- it's an eye-opener for things that they'd never thought about."

McCormack says he believes agribusiness management, agriculture science and engineering, ag and forestry production and education are the largest areas for ag career growth. There is currently a shortage of agriculture teachers in Missouri and many other states across the U.S.

"The career outlook for agricultural students is very good," says McCormack. "As the population grows, those people must be fed. That means the opportunities in agriculture will continue to grow."