FFA Week thoughts...

FFA Week begins today... What does that mean?
"Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. The week-long tradition began in 1947 when the National FFA Board of Directors designated the week of George Washington's birthday as National FFA Week in recognition of his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. The first National FFA Week was held in 1948."

Thinking back to when I was in high school, I can't honestly remember anything about FFA week. Now, scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, I feel like it is an Ag teachers duty to find the best, coolest, and most awesome activities to execute during the week long celebration (with the help of kids, of course).

Why is it so important for us to have these explosively successful activities that have kids screaming "I love FFA!" at the tops of their lungs?! Isn't it more important to win over hearts of high school kids throughout the entire year? Are we spinning our wheels to plan and have activities that look great on social media?

I feel like every FFA chapter could now have a reality TV show during FFA week. But how many could say they could have that much excitement during the rest of the school year?

Should we be peaking during one week of the year or should we be consistent throughout the year?? Reflecting back on what my students remember over the past few years, it usually doesn't include an FFA week activity. Maybe we are doing it wrong? But what if, we are doing it right? --stick with me here

My students remember trips, conferences, community service projects and CDE practices before they remember something like corn hole... Now, it's important to have things happening during FFA week, especially things that involve the whole school. But, what if we did that all year? Why do we concentrate it into one week and expect amazing things? 

Wouldn't we be better off to coordinate one day a month, all year (August-June) to incorporate FFA, Ag education, Ag literacy, service and the entire school? Would it be more memorable? Would we be serving more of our student body?

Now, don't get me wrong-- I understand and value FFA week and it's purpose. But why can't we do more? Think global, act local type of thing... Something to think about for next year... 

Until then... I'll continue to enjoy all the Facebook and Instagram posts of other Ag teachers and their ideas... 

Happy FFA Week! 

Tug O War

Chalk Square Challenge 

Sack Races

Blast from the past Senior Photo in my FFA uniform... 

That Admin life...

Last week I went to a Mentoring Conference hosted by CATA and UC Davis (I think?) for Ag teachers. One of the workshops I participated in was related to what else you could do/become beyond the classroom. There was a Community College educator, a school administrator, and a teacher with a PhD giving the workshop. They had really interesting perspectives on what other things Ag teachers could do beside be in the classroom.

Now this might sound rude but.... We are struggling to find Ag teachers all over the state, so why would we want any decent one to be lost to other careers? Especially ones that are not in the classroom, like administration?? Community Colleges? Sure yeah okay, teach agriculture at a higher level, sounds good... But become a principal, vice principal, anything remotely close to that? Heck no, no thanks, never in a million years!

Last night, we had our Sonoma Section CATA Administrator & Supporter Night. It is basically a dinner to thank admin, counselors, district staff, boosters and advisory members. I think our section does a fairly decent job with hosting the event because they always find great presenters for a discussion/education portion of the evening. However, after sitting through this dinner, all I could think was I cannot believe we have to present about the importance of agriculture education and CTE (Career & Technical Education), year after year... Isn't it obvious?

I think it is sad honestly. One of the comments during the discussion was, "you (meaning admin) would never be at this type of event with your math department, or your special ed department". How true is that?! I mean seriously? Since I always take my token English teacher to events like this, I asked her what she thought. As always for her, attending "Ag things" gets her jazzed because they do not do things in regular education like we do in Ag education. Rarely, if ever, do English teachers from multiple schools in the county, get together to catch up, hangout or have meetings... But in Ag we do!

So it begs the question, why would someone go into administration? To make things better? Give their opinion? Stand up for a specific demographic? Make a difference?

YOU can do that as a teacher!!! Hello people!

Ag Education is a rare, wild, tenacious, and energetic beast. But it also fights for kids, teaches real skill, makes public speakers, encourages academics, and changes lives. Being an Ag teacher allows me to watch kids change so much! Sometimes overnight, sometimes over four years. But the change is inevitable. I'm not sure administrator can say the same about their job. Which makes me sad for them. They have to worry about all these balls in the air and rarely have the opportunity to appreciate one program over another, let alone specific students.

Ag kids are the coolest kids. No matter the school, district, or region, Ag kids understand how to be productive. We need more kids like that. I wish administration could say the same about every program on campus.

This sums up Ag education perfectly...

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." Martin Luther King, Jr.

These are what cool kids look like! Give kids purpose and watch all the amazing things they do in and outside the classroom!