A time honored tradition, the Fresno State Field Day brings in FFA members
from across California.
"FFA has taught me to basically be a leader," said
El Capitan High School student Angelica Haynes.
Agriculture education gives teens opportunities to
take the knowledge they've acquired in the classroom and put it to
use.
This is hands on experimental learning. This is actually getting the students
to perform a task, rather than just finding an answer 'C," said Clovis Unified
Agriculture Teacher Kevin Woodard.
He is one of thousands of teachers who put in countless
hours as FFA Advisors, well after school ends for the day.
Students show their skills in dairy cattle judging, public
speaking and many other areas, designed to keep the future of California's Ag
industry competitive.
But these career development events were eliminated from
Governor Jerry Brown's budget.
Opportunities are now drying up.
"The drought is obviously an issue that we're going to have to be facing as
an industry but a drought of future Ag leaders could even be more devastating.
We know eventually it may rain again," said Woodard.
The financial drought could be devastating for many
districts that rely on the $4.1 million Ag Ed Incentive Grant for
extracurricular events like Sunday's State FFA Leadership Conference in
Fresno.
"It's amazing. It's made me such more responsible, I've learned
so much. I've gained so much knowledge. It's actually making me want to in the
field of Ag later on when I graduate," said El Capitan High School student Kay
Kennedy.
With districts facing tens of thousands of dollars in losses each year,
it could mean fewer leaders in an industry that feeds the world.
Lawmakers voted in March to restore funding for the current fiscal year but
the future remains uncertain.
from across California.
"FFA has taught me to basically be a leader," said
El Capitan High School student Angelica Haynes.
Agriculture education gives teens opportunities to
take the knowledge they've acquired in the classroom and put it to
use.
This is hands on experimental learning. This is actually getting the students
to perform a task, rather than just finding an answer 'C," said Clovis Unified
Agriculture Teacher Kevin Woodard.
He is one of thousands of teachers who put in countless
hours as FFA Advisors, well after school ends for the day.
Students show their skills in dairy cattle judging, public
speaking and many other areas, designed to keep the future of California's Ag
industry competitive.
But these career development events were eliminated from
Governor Jerry Brown's budget.
Opportunities are now drying up.
"The drought is obviously an issue that we're going to have to be facing as
an industry but a drought of future Ag leaders could even be more devastating.
We know eventually it may rain again," said Woodard.
The financial drought could be devastating for many
districts that rely on the $4.1 million Ag Ed Incentive Grant for
extracurricular events like Sunday's State FFA Leadership Conference in
Fresno.
"It's amazing. It's made me such more responsible, I've learned
so much. I've gained so much knowledge. It's actually making me want to in the
field of Ag later on when I graduate," said El Capitan High School student Kay
Kennedy.
With districts facing tens of thousands of dollars in losses each year,
it could mean fewer leaders in an industry that feeds the world.
Lawmakers voted in March to restore funding for the current fiscal year but
the future remains uncertain.