Happy National FFA Week. In an effort to help you all know more about the National FFA Organization and Agricultural Education as a whole, please read this newsletter. It will help give you a “bigger picture” of what our students do both inside and outside the classroom. We have a special committee of Ag Leadership students in place for National FFA Week and they have planned many great activities. Thank you for your continued support of our incredible students!
2019-2020 FFA Leadership Committee Chairs
Agriculture is part of our daily lives—from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. More than 700,000 FFA members will celebrate the role agriculture plays in our lives while sharing the message of agricultural education as part of National FFA Week. California alone comprises over 90,000 FFA members, with the recent addition of official state-wide middle school programs. SLOHS has approximately 300 students enrolled in agriculture courses. All students in agricultural education complete a “SAE” Supervised Agricultural Experience project and actively participate in FFA service or leadership activities. Many of our students choose to challenge themselves by conducting Agriscience Research projects. This week is a time for students to host activities that raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural education. It always runs Saturday to Saturday and encompasses Feb. 22, George Washington’s birthday.
Our students will be doing activities daily to promote FFA at SLOHS.
Tuesday 2/18
Teachers – Look in your boxes for FFA Week surprises! Enjoy complimentary vegetable and succulent plants in biodegradable pots prepared by Ag classes. Pick yours up in the staff copy machine room.
Library Display: We will be setting up a display with various items that represent all our classes and CTE opportunities in agriculture education.
Wednesday 2/19
Morning FFA Chapter Meeting including Breakfast [Thank you ASB]. Breakfast starts at 6:45AM, meeting promptly at 7:00AM. Approximately 65 students in attendance. Run by our Chapter Officer Team.
Petting Zoo at Lunch in the Quad
Chamber of Commerce Meeting at Farm Supply – volunteering in uniform
Thursday 2/20
FFA on the Hill – A tradition for over 20 years!
Community Service Event at lunch in room 308. Making arrangements and care cards to deliver to a local senior center.
Friday 2/21
Teachers Appreciation Breakfast in the library workroom 7:15-8am.
Blue & Gold Day [FFA colors are National Blue and Corn Gold]. You will all receive something in your box. We would love for you to wear it on Friday!
Chapter Degree Leadership Award recognition ceremony at lunch in room 308.
Why National FFA Week?
The National FFA Board of Directors designated the weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, in recognition of Washington’s legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. A group of young farmers founded FFA in 1928, influencing generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it involves science, business and more. The organization’s mission is to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population.
Today, FFA continues to help the next generation meet new agricultural challenges, develop unique talents and explore a broad range of career pathways. Today’s FFA members are tomorrow’s future biologists, chemists, veterinarians, engineers and entrepreneurs. National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to share agriculture with their fellow students as well as their communities. Chapters also give back to their communities through service projects and recruit students to become FFA members. During National FFA Week, the six national officers will visit chapters across the country.Also the NATIONAL FFA Officer team will be promoting FFA Week activities to chapters NATIONwide.
Here are some additional facts / info about our SLOHS Agricultural Education Program
Over 300 students are currently enrolled in Agriculture classes.
Close to 75 students raise livestock projects for the California Mid State Fair. They are enrolled in summer school credits for Livestock Management 1-4.
We have close to 15 LDE [Leadership Development Event] or CDE [Career Development Event] teams that students participate in each year.
The Past CA FFA State President and recent National President, Luke O’Leary, is from SLO HS.
Our department has 4 CTE pathways [Agriscience, Ag Leadership, Animal Science, Plant/Floral]
In the past 5 years, we have had numerous State and National Championships in areas of Veterinary Science, Agriscience Research, Marketing Plan, Novice and Advanced Parliamentary Procedure, Creed Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking, Job Interview, and Agricultural Communications.
In 2015, SLOHS Ag Program was awarded the Overall Outstanding Program in the Western U.S.