FFA: AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

FFA is a National Organization that serves students enrolled in Agricultural education courses in both public and private schools in grades 7-12. The North Carolina FFA Association is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through Agricultural Education. The North Carolina FFA Association is an educational 501 (c) 3 organization managed by a 20-member board of directors.

State staff members, headquartered at North Carolina State University, are stationed throughout the state to provide the necessary support to the more than 400 high school and middle school Agricultural education teachers and the more than 250 chapters in our North Carolina schools.

Housed within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, state staff members develop nationally recognized curriculum, provide programmatic support for all FFA programs, conventions, conferences, and workshops as well as provide the management of the state's official FFA Camp, the North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake.

FFA continues to receive a strong emphasis among programs and teachers in the state. The merits of the FFA program have long been established. Today, FFA membership is at a 25-year high. The State and National Convention drew the largest number of participants in recent years. In addition, a strong camping program focusing on leadership and personal growth for members’ impacts thousands each summer. Additionally, members are afforded expanded opportunity through an increase in the number of Career Development Events and Proficiency Award areas for student participation and recognition ranging from Agricultural Communications to Parliamentary Procedure and Equine Evaluation. Local chapters provide a venue for members to get involved in their community through service and improvement projects. Expansion into the middle grades continues to make progress with the creation of four new career development events specifically for middle grades members. State staff members make these positive experiences possible as they direct and facilitate the various components of the Agricultural Education program.

LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION

Local Chapter
Federation
Region
State
National
Please contact your local agricultural education program for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT

An extensive awards and recognition program is provided for individual members, teams, and chapters. These include nearly 50 proficiency award areas ranging from Agricultural Energy Systems to Wildlife Management, which are based on student Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Programs in which students apply classroom knowledge to a real life situation under the guidance of their instructor; five level degree program; chapter awards for student participation and involvement in their community, student development and chapter development; and 42 career development events and scholarships and student awards at the state level totaling more than $250,000 and at the national level of more than $2 million.

FFA Members are involved in Community Service projects at the local, state, and national levels. Traditionally, local chapters have helped with beautification projects and improvement projects in their local school and community. In recent years, each year the State FFA Association has also taken some service area to encourage member participation. The 2008-2009 State FFA Officer team is excited to announce this year’s state service project, "Going Green". As proposed by the delegates at the 80th North Carolina FFA Convention, this service project calls on FFA members in our state to make a difference in their homes, chapters and local communities by recycling, conserving resources and making healthy decisions.

FFA members can make an impact by: recycling waste materials, conserving energy, gardening at home, conserving water, physical activity, and eating smart!

At the national level, even more opportunities are encouraged for local chapters as well as state associations. To accomplish lofty goals, the National FFA has incorporated Living to Serve as an overarching program encouraging civic engagement and community service in rural areas. Sponsored by the National FFA Organization through grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Living to Serve program will provide more than $130,000 in grants and awards to chapters or members nationwide. Three key components of the program are the PALS program, The Million Hour Challenge, and National FFA Days of Service.

Partners in Active Learning Support (PALS) is a mentoring program that matches high school FFA students with elementary school students. FFA chapters participating in the PALS program are eligible to receive a grant award up to $1,000 each to support a local community service-learning project. Grant applicants must enter their hours into the Million Hour Challenge database.

The Million Hour Challenge, sponsored by Toyota, encourages members across the country to improve their communities through civic engagement. Project hours contributed by members and advisors are captured to provide recognition within FFA as well as in the communities themselves. Awards will be given during the 2008 National FFA Convention to the chapters having the greatest number of community service hours in the following categories—Environment, Government, Social/Human Service, Healthy Lifestyles and Education. The awards total $12,500. Eligible project hours are those earned during the Oct. 2, 2007 to Oct. 1, 2008 period. Hours from all programs above are eligible for the Million Hour Challenge. Please remember, hours must be entered by advisors into the Million Hour database to earn credit.

The National FFA Days of Service places volunteer members, delegates and advisors with host-city partners (civic and nonprofit organizations such as food banks, city parks, etc.) during National FFA Convention week to experience a one-half day service-learning event. The focus is to effect change and encourage similar projects in the member’s own community. FFA chapters participating in this event are eligible to receive a grant award up to $1,000 each to support a local community service-learning project. Grant applicants must enter their service hours into the Million Hour Challenge database. Details on Living to Serve Program Grants and Awards.

BENEFITS TO MEMBERS

FFA Members receive six copies of the National FFA Magazine, New Horizons, in addition to the opportunity to participate in 42 career development events, attend camp at the NC FFA Center, apply for scholarships and other awards, attend state and national conventions, and attend numerous leadership and personal development workshops.

LINKS

The NC FFA web site features news and upcoming events for NC FFA members.

The national FFA website features news about FFA, scholarships, conventions, national officer blogs, and other information important to FFA members.