Importance of Agriculture Education in Schools and My Life

An essay by Brantley FFA member Meg Mount

It’s challenging within itself to address any kind of inquiry. One that particularly stands out to me is the importance of agriculture in education. The question I am addressing is, “With school systems discontinuing agriculture classes, how can one promote and secure a place for agriculture in education?” Much like “Home Economics,” agriculture classes, if not secured, will become extinct.

At Brantley High School, every seventh grade student has to have an agriculture class. On the first day of class, the teacher, Mr. Mark Andrews, asks, “Did you rely on agriculture to get to school today?” The majority of the class answers, “No.” There are very few who know what the true definition of agriculture is and the important role it plays in their life. Natural Geographic defines it as, “the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to markets.”

Through my school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, now known as the National FFA Organization, we aspire to inform young minds about the importance of agriculture and what part it plays in their lives. This program helped to inform even myself. I had no idea the amount of wonder and adventure that lay in this career field. There are jobs for everyone through this broad field. You can be a farmer, biological engineer, teacher, forester and many, many more.

In the FFA organization, students can compete in a large variety of events. There are Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs). Personally, I have competed in the Quiz Bowl, Forestry and Poultry events. Quiz Bowl is an event where the students have to learn facts about FFA and all aspects of agriculture. The facts can range from scientific names of animals, current officers, plant science, etc. They take a knowledge exam and advance into buzzer rounds to determine the winners.

Forestry, on the other hand, is a very complex event. The students take a general forestry knowledge exam that contains safety, equipment, charts and many different forestry facts. Then, the students go into the woods and complete tree identification, diameter at breast height with timber volume, compass with degrees, tree evaluation, and many other aspects of evaluating timber. I have competed in this event at the District, State and National level. State level was more advanced than District, and Nationals was more advanced than State. The National level of competition was held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our team raised enough money to take the trip with all expenses paid. This experience was incomparable to anything else I have accomplished in my life.

The poultry event has thrown me for a loop this past year. Chickens and all things poultry can have a variety of different depictions and the judges have different opinions than the contestants. Like the other events, there is a general knowledge exam first. Then, you have to evaluate egg quality, evaluate female and male chickens, identify parts of the chicken, evaluate cooked chicken quality, etc. At the State level, there are more parts added that challenge the students to achieve greater study habits and also help teach them to pay more attention to detail.

FFA and agriculture have both played a very important role in molding me into the young woman I am today. Without them, I definitely would not have the knowledge, experiences, or even friends that I have today. I have met so many different people with different interests that have become some of my very close friends that I will hold in my heart forever. My FFA Adviser has become like a father figure to me and my fellow officers are like my brothers and sisters.

I would recommend becoming involved in FFA or any other agriculture-related organizations to anyone who asked my opinion. FFA not only benefits the students who want to follow the agriculture pathway, but even those who do not. People need to know where the food they eat for every meal comes from. People need to know where the clothes they wear on their backs come from. Without educating the public, what happens when agriculture fades? When people stop getting the necessary food and other goods they need to survive?

The United States Department of Agriculture has an initiative entitled “Know your farmer, know your food.” Below the title, there was a statement that stood out to me, “Every family needs a farmer. Do you know yours?” In school, we are taught the importance of agriculture, but to me, there is something far more important that is often overlooked and that is the farmer. Without the farmer, there would be no agriculture industry. Every farmer plays a crucial part in the community, even the small farmers that feed just their family.

Brantley FFA members work diligently to bring awareness of farm safety each year. This creative display, set up at the local Co-op, is just one way they advertise the importance of safety during National Farm Safety Week.

By the year 2050, the population is expected to reach nine billion. Which means food production will have to increase by 100%. How will we reach the food demands if the public does not even know where their food comes from? We must educate the public and let them see the benefits of farming. It is our responsibility as citizens to strive to make this world a better place.

With an increasing global population, a decreasing amount of land available for food production and with less than 2% of the U.S. population directly involved in production agriculture, there is no time like the present to strive to educate the public about agriculture and farming practices. It cannot be stated enough how crucial it is for more people to understand agriculture and not be influenced by common misconceptions. There is no doubt that the general public needs to be more knowledgeable about agriculture, as well as more aware of just how much it impacts all of our lives.

“I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds.” This quote from E.M. Tiffany was written with a purpose, and that purpose was to encourage FFA members to keep believing in what the future holds for them. Being in FFA, which is an agricultural-based organization, you learn that agriculture is the largest industry in the world, but if you are not willing to work for it, it will fall. I’m sure each and every one of Mr. Andrews’s students can remember and can answer the “Is agriculture important? Why or why not?” question on the first test in our agriculture class. Little did we know just how important that question is. I challenge you to now answer that question yourself. Ask yourself also, how can you inform others about your opinion? How can you promote agriculture and secure its place in schools? I know the struggles and hardships you have to go through to inform the public, but I will never give up trying to inform and inspire those around me because I believe in the future of agriculture; I believe in the future of the world.

My name is Megan Mount and I’m from Brantley, Alabama. FFA and agriculture both play very significant roles in my life. Before I was in the seventh grade and able to officially join my local FFA chapter, I was involved indirectly because of my sister. She was a prepared public speaker. Mr. Mark Andrews, my FFA advisor, has been a family friend since before my sister and I were even born. With this, I’ve always had a deeply rooted attachment to FFA and agriculture. When I joined FFA in the seventh grade, the passion for this career field and all that it encompasses ignited inside me. Competing in different events and holding various officer positions have made me develop many skills and grow into the young adult I am today. About the Essay Writer

Reason for writing the essay:

Being a senior in high school, you are encouraged to apply for every scholarship that is available to you. When applying for the Jimmy Rane scholarship, there was a space meant for the applicant to address an adventurous inquiry in 1,000 words or more. The topic was very broad, but I knew that agriculture in education held a very important place in my heart. Agriculture education completely changed my life and the thought of children today possibly not having the opportunity to have all the learning experiences that Agriculture education has to offer greatly concerns me.

I mentioned my advisor several times in my essay and addressed topics that hold a special place in his heart as well as mine. Showing him my essay really touched him. Knowing the role he plays in my life and the impact his guidance has had on me made him realize his worth to his students as a teacher and advisor. He has and continues to make a positive impact on generations of students that is immeasurable. He then proceeded to send my essay out to a few other agriculturally employed cohorts. Now, it is published because of my passion, my extraordinary advisor, and the resources we have established throughout our community and organization.