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The National FFA Organization (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) does far more than teach young people how to grow hay or raise cattle. It instills a distinct sense of responsibility and leadership, and it focuses on training students toward their desired career paths.
As the largest youth organization in the country, the FFA is renowned for creating competent agriculture-minded individuals for the workplace. In its 80-plus years, FFA has gained a positive reputation among employers, which is important for students to consider as they start planning for their futures.
The FFA is set up in a three-circle model, which includes classroom lessons, leadership courses and the Supervised Agricultural Experience, in which students gain experience through a work project. While the FFA provides resources for approximately 250 lessons geared toward leadership and character building, local teachers can develop their own agriculture coursework.
The options are practically unlimited. Most teachers create their own lessons based on what’s relevant in their region. Here are just a few lesson plans to give you an idea of what’s possible:
- Communications: What are Noxious Weeds? (for middle or high school)
- History: Food Production (for middle or high school)
- Science: Solar Power Generation (for high school)
Click for more farm-based lesson plans.
About the Author: Freelance writer Amy Grisak often conducts homeseading-related experiments where she lives in Great Falls, Mont., with her two young sons and her husband, Grant. It’s not unusual for them to have a beehive in their crawlspace, food experiments stashed everywhere, and construction projects (including a solar oven) that make their neighbors scratch their heads.
