California Agricultural Teachers' Association Archives

Atwater High’s agriculture department getting national recognition

Source: Doane Yawger; The Merced Sun-Star

Atwater High School’s agriculture program is in the running to be named the top such endeavor in the nation.

By virtue of being named the top ag program in the state this year by the California Agricultural Teachers Association, the Atwater program was nominated for the national award and should be notified soon, Principal Alan Peterson said.

“They’re getting the recognition they deserve,” Peterson said. “They deserve it. They are a hardworking staff with a lot of motivated students.”

The national ag teachers association holds its annual conference Nov. 18 in Nashville, Tenn.

Dave Gossman, AHS agriculture department chairman, said at least half of the school’s 1,800 students have taken one or more agricultural courses. Last year it became the largest single high school ag program in the nation.

“We’re excited,” Gossman said. “We’ve got a supportive school, district, community and ag industry. The credit should go to all.”

There are five directions ag students can take. They can take pathways in agricultural mechanics, which includes welding, engines and woodworking. Or they can take agricultural science, ag biology and life science courses. Then there is floriculture; animal science and veterinary skills; and leadership and agribusiness, Gossman said.

Makala Navarro, a senior and an ag student, said she didn’t have many expectations when she took agriculture as a freshman.

“I was quiet and shy. I had no ag background,” Navarro said. “Through the past three-plus years, I have gained confidence and direction in life, and my goal is to enter a four-year university and major in agriculture education with the desire to be an agriculture teacher.

Natalie Borba, ag instructor, said the reason so many students get involved in agriculture education and Future Farmers of America is because it has personal value, it’s fun, and gets them participating in activities and events that extend beyond the classroom.

“For the parents and guardians, ag ed serves as a vehicle toward academic interest and success. For the community and ag industry, it keeps kids focused on something positive and provides a future pipeline of leaders and industry employment,” Borba said.

Gossman said if Atwater High is selected as the Region 1 winner of the State Outstanding Middle/Secondary School Agricultural Education Program Award, a teacher from its agriculture program will receive an expense-paid trip to attend the 2014 NAAE convention, where the program will be recognized during a general session. The Atwater program also received the top state award four years ago.

The Outstanding Middle/Secondary School Agricultural Education Program award is partially sponsored by Monsanto as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. Applicants are judged on teaching philosophy, effective classroom and experiential instruction, development of partnerships, and professional growth.

“The award and recognition is something we take pride in. However, it reflects the positive difference agricultural education makes on young people in terms of personal growth, academic success and career exploration,” Gossman said. “It is a proven education model that is for all kids. It provides value to both agriculture and non-agriculture-directed students.”

Gossman said the same success stories can be found in all high school agriculture programs throughout the state.

“It’s all about making a positive difference in the lives of young people,” Gossman said. “Ag ed is a great vehicle to accomplish this task.”

The National Association of Agricultural Educators, the professional organization in the United States for agricultural educators, provides its nearly 8,000 members with professional networking and development opportunities, professional liability coverage, and extensive awards and recognition programs.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:33:27-07:00September 9th, 2014|

Ag Students Rally to Try to Preserve Education Grants

Source: California Farm Bureau Federation

Concerns about future funding for high school agricultural classes and leadership programs are being voiced throughout California—and nowhere louder than at the state Capitol, where thousands of students and members of Future Farmers of America rallied last week to try to prevent elimination of the state’s $4.1 million Agricultural Education Incentive Grant program.

“It was gratifying to see the number of legislators who came out to support the students at the Capitol rally,” said Jim Aschwanden, executive director of the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association, who estimated participation at more than 2,000 students.

“They were met with great bipartisan support from both houses,” Aschwanden said. “The kids who came to the Capitol were well prepared to discuss the programs and funding issues, and did a great job of visiting offices.”

Program funding was included in the 2013-14 budget because legislators pressured the administration to preserve it, but the administration suggested the grant program could be scrapped this year.

Agricultural educators across the state currently use the grants to support career-based education that combines FFA leadership and personal development programs with classroom and vocational instruction, he said. The programs develop young leaders who go on to attend post-secondary colleges and career technical education programs at higher rates than their peers, Aschwanden said.

Enrollment in agriculture classes offered at 315 high schools statewide has steadily climbed during the past decade, educators said. Today, about 78,000 California high school students take agriculture-related classes, with strong program growth at urban high schools as well as those in rural communities.

“As teachers, parents, community members and taxpayers, we’re angry,” said Dave Gossman, who heads the agriculture department at Atwater High School. “The decision to eliminate the ag grant program is perplexing because it impacts an education program that has a direct benefit on the lives of our kids and the state’s future.”

Without the grant funding, California’s agricultural programs could be terminated, vocational education experts said.

“Instead of eliminating California’s proven FFA program, why not secure funding and build on the programs to offer more students the opportunity for success?” Gossman said.

“Virtually every region in our state has an FFA program,” Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, said in a letter to legislative leaders, which was signed by nearly 100 members of the Legislature and also noted the rising enrollment in agricultural classes.

The classes include agriscience, mechanics, ornamental horticulture, animal science, agriculture business, plant and soil science, forestry and natural resources.

Andrea Fox, legislative policy analyst for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said Farm Bureau has been “actively involved in ensuring that funding will remain available for the agricultural grant program.” She noted that a Farm Team alert from CFBF generated nearly 400 letters to the governor and legislators in support of the program.

Aschwanden said the next steps in the state budget process will include legislative committee hearings.

“We’re anxious to see what the May (budget) revise looks like in terms of overall funding for education,” he said. “We’re hearing there may be additional funds available for education, which will make these proposed cuts to ag education even more disturbing.”

He said agricultural educators have asked people to contact legislators, “particularly those from urban areas.”

Leaders of “Save FFA.com,” a grassroots group affiliated with the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association, encourage parents and community leaders to write letters to the governor and members of the Legislature. More information on the effort to ensure funding for agricultural education is online at www.saveffa.com.

Patrick Cavanaugh2016-05-31T19:38:06-07:00March 26th, 2014|