For the first time since the 1990s, Madison-Grant Jr. and Sr. High School received membership with The National Future Farmers of America organization.
The FFA is an intra-curricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership.
With new construction this past summer, the school added on over 1,400 square feet dedicated to Agricultural Education. With both Madison and Grant counties nearing 75% of land use for farming according to Indiana Business Research Center, the program is relevant to students in the area.
According to agriculture teacher Courtney Tate, membership in the FFA will provide new opportunities and access for competition and connection for Madison-Grant students in the new Agricultural Education program.
The students at Madison-Grant led the charge for their membership according to Tate.
“It’s a pretty intense process,” Tate said. “Students built a program of activities of what students want to participate in and how they would execute it. The group planned for four major events for the future. Their planning requires illustrating how parts of the projects involve the community, chapter, and members and how all can benefit.”
Tate also says the national membership will give the students access to national level competitions as well as an educational focus at conventions and workshops.
The National FFA invited Madison-Grant students to their convention in Indianapolis where they were able to experience the possibilities through business, colleges, and tech on site. As members, students will be able to participate in all of the education being offered at conventions and throughout the region. The exposure to these different agricultural outlets shows students how farming now has so many facets, and the professionalism involved in being a member of this organization. Tate explained how the idea gained traction.
“Originally when we brought them the idea of the FFA, they thought it was a bunch of small-town schools just doing this for fun like it was not really a big deal,” Tate said. “We took them to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, and it opened their eyes to the possibilities in agriculture and what the FFA can do for them.”
The Agricultural Education program at Madison-Grant begins in the 7th and 8th grades, as all students participate with the required coursework.
The classes introduce agriculture, as well as leadership skills, opening up the ability to a more advanced course load when they reach high school level.
Similar to the FFA, the focus is not just on farming, but on leadership and critical thinking skills.
Tate says, “It’s really amazing to see these students at the 7th and 8th-grade level be comfortable getting up in front of a group of their peers to speak. Agricultural Ed is about so much more than farming- we go over leadership, public speaking, and how interconnected we are in this community”
Madison-Grant Jr. and Sr. High School now carries a charter for membership in The National FFA Organization for the 2019-2020 school year thanks to the hard work and dedication of its students and faculty.
