VO-AG CHANGES WITH THE TIMES

When David Wells took on the job of vocational-agriculture instructor at Jackson High School 23 years ago, there weren't any girls in his program. It wasn't a field girls were encouraged to enter.

Then Wells attended the SEMO District Fair and noticed a young lady showing cattle."She was sitting there doing her homework, and I thought, now there's a girl I'd like to have in my program," he said. There were only two or three girls those first few years, but now girls comprise almost 25 percent of the student population in vo-ag classes.

Technological advancements have changed the face of the program many remember as a "farming" class to one that deals with farm-management and agriculture-business courses; equine, livestock, soil and crop science; ag-mechanics and record keeping.

Jackson has seen a resurgence in its vocational agriculture program. A second teacher and new courses were added this year. More than 70 students are enrolled in the first-year ag-science class that deals with livestock, leadership, ag-mechanics and record-keeping. "We introduce them to a lot of everything," Wells said.

For centuries, work had been done in traditional ways. Parents not only trained their children in their work, they also acquainted them with the limited range of other choices available. At one time in American history, more than eight of 10 Americans worked in agriculture. Occupational choice was not an issue, and most young people learned the needed skills at home.

As the Industrial Revolution hit, some occupations were lost to new and modern techniques. By the Civil War only half of America's workforce was employed in agriculture, and by World War II that number had dropped to one-eighth. Even with the increasing technological advancements, agriculture skills were still considered important. In 1862, federal support was given for land grant colleges -- colleges that gave instruction in agriculture and the mechanic arts. The University of Missouri-Columbia became a land grant college. Today the university is one of only six in the state that offer vocational-agriculture teacher training. Southeast Missouri State University also offers a vo-ag degree, but its graduates are usually preparing themselves for the myriad of new positions that have opened in the agricultural field."Farmers as a group in general have worked themselves out of a job," said Wells. They've become so good at producing food that theres a surplus. That is why vo-ag students are being introduced to such a wide variety of course offerings.

Just as computers have become a major player in many classrooms, they have become a necessary tool for the vo-ag student too.

Record-keeping is done on computers as well as figuring stock and crop projections. Jackson High School is equipped with a satellite dish that allows vo-ag students to have access to the latest weather predictions and stock and crop prices.

The use of a welding simulator, complete with computer chips, allows students to perfect the art of welding before beginning a project. The simulator is similar to a video game but is very non-forgiving, said Wells."Getting the technique down is half the game," said Wells. The simulator allows for all the settings, design and thickness of metal to be done in a practice environment.

Fewer vo-ag students live on farms today. For those who have an interest but no means, work-release programs allow them to grasp a better understanding of what farm life is like.

Jackie Waller, who is in her first year as vo-ag instructor at Oran High School, grew up on a 200-acre farm in northeast Missouri."I've always known I wanted to be a teacher," she said. By the time she was 8, she was actively involved with 4-H. Being the oldest of several cousins, it became her job to teach the others about how to do things around the farm."I always knew I'd do something in the agriculture field," agriculture seemed a natural choice.

By the time Waller graduated from the University of Missouri, 50 percent of her class was female and they all held teaching degrees.

Waller's program resembles that of Wells'. The seventh- and eighth- grade classes are involved in an exploratory program focusing on the need for agriculture study. Later courses deal with leadership, careers, horticulture, crop and animal science and agriculture business management.

Students graduating with vo-ag degrees have no trouble finding employment. Many positions are highly scientific and deal with methods of increasing animal as well as crop production.

Graduation doesn't necessarily mean an end to the learning for the teacher or student. To prepare today's graduates, instructors must keep current on new methods and trends. Adult programs are also offered to keep current agriculture workers abreast of the newest techniques to increase their farm's productivity.