About

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that is a part of agricultural education programs at middle and high schools. Today, student members are engaged in a wide range of curriculum and FFA activities, leading to over 300 career opportunities in agriculture. FFA is structured on three levels: local, state and national. At the national level, FFA is led by a board of directors and six student national officers.

The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America; however, in 1988 the official name of the organization was changed from “Future Farmers of America” to “The National FFA Organization” to reflect the growing diversity of agriculture. The National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation operate from the National FFA Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The National FFA Headquarters are located in Alexandria, Virginia. FFA programs are funded through sponsorships and private donations at the local, state and national level. National dues for each member are $5 per year.

The National FFA Convention is held each October with nearly 55,000 FFA members and guests from across the country in attendance. Members participate in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops, a career show and expo, volunteer activities and much more. It is one of the largest annual youth gatherings in the country. Each February, State FFA chapters across the nation participate in National FFA Week at the local and state levels. Chapters plan a weeklong schedule of events to promote FFA and agriculture in their schools and communities.

The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

To accomplish its mission, FFA:

• Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.

• Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.

• Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.

• Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.

• Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.

• Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.

• Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.

• Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.

• Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.

• Promotes healthy lifestyles.

• Encourages excellence in scholarship

What is the purpose of the advisory board?

The primary purpose of the local advisory committee is to provide to the agriculture teacher, school administration and board of education advice on issues affecting the agriculture program. Advisory committee members must understand the committee has no administrative policymaking or legislative authority.

Four secondary purposes of the advisory committee are to:

1. Provide advice on the quality of the curriculum in regard to its relevance and whether it meets the needs of employers.

2. Inform the school about the current and future labor market.

3. Inform the teacher of new and innovative technology being used by the local industry.

4. Serve as a resource to the local agriculture education program.

A well-functioning advisory committee will:

• Evaluate the current agricultural education program to determine if it is providing realistic and current preparation and training for students.

• Act as a change agent to increase the agricultural education program’s relevance.

• Help secure training sites and assist in the placement of program graduates.

• Advise school personnel of changes in the job market.

• Provide input and support for funding at the local level.

• Act as a communications link to assist in the development of community understanding of and support for the agricultural education program.

• Serves as a valuable resource during transitions between teachers.

• Recruit students into the program.

• Provide a service to the agricultural education program.

In order to accomplish these expectations, the advisory committee needs to:

• Be familiar with the goals, curriculum, competencies, lesson plans, and classroom and lab formats of the agricultural education program.

• Be familiar with the school policies, guidelines and expectations.

• Identify the trends in education and employment for specific industries to determine how the agricultural education program needs to prepare the students for jobs in the community.

• Identify the equipment and facilities used by business and industry.

Each committee member must meet all of the criteria listed below:

• Interested in education and youth.

• Interested in the agriculture education program.

• Time available to serve.

• Willing to serve and ability to make a contribution.

• An excellent reputation for honesty, integrity and good character.

• Someone who is forthright with their views but builds consensus in the group.

• Respected by their professional peers.

• We are currently looking for members to join our Alumni Chapter.

Check back for more information.

Check back for more information.

Check back for more information.

The Badger High School-Lake Geneva Schools Farm to School Program began in 2011 as a branched segment of the Wisconsin Green and Healthy Schools Program. An an advisory committee began investigating ways to become more eco-friendly and improve the school nutrition/meal program through the segment of healthy lifestyles. Local business members, teachers, administration, nutritional directors, and students began investigating ways to improve school lunch which in essence launched the school’s first Farm to School Program. The Farm to School program is supported by the Badger FFA, Badger Eco Club, and the Badger ProStart Culinary Program.

The National Farm to School Program is a program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers. Since each Farm to School program is shaped by its unique community and region, the National Farm to School Network does not prescribe or impose a list of practices or products for the Farm to School approach. the network includes national staff, regional lead agencies, and leads as well as programs in all 50 states. For more information on the National Farm to School Program, please visitwww.farmtoschool.org

Badger High School’s Farm to School program is currently committed to several projects:

– Vertical farming lettuce and tomatoes in one of the school’s greenhouse structures to provide fresh produce in the school lunch salad/sub line. This incorporates locally grown food that is better for the students since it is often fresher and provides increased nutritional value. The goal of this project is to provide students with learning resources as well as hopefully decreasing obesity of our student body through healthier food options.

-Students in Agriscience and Science classes in grades 9-12 are learning more about their food supply, take ownership in raising their own food through the USDA example project of “Know your Farmer, Know your Food”, as well as option their horizons to new food options.

-Students in the environmental awareness class are focusing efforts in raising local micro-greens and herbs for the culinary program and school lunch program.

-Several agricultural science class students are learning how to compost their waste food scraps and paper by vermicomposting, or in other words, decomposing waste using worms into nutritious compost for the school and community gardens.

-The Badger FFA assists with managing and support of the school district’s community garden sites. The community gardens were started in 2011 as a route for families and community members to raise their own vegetable garden even if they could not at their home. Over 50 plots are laid out, labelled, tilled, and cleaned up by our FFA members. They help with gardener questions, compost bin turning, and even landscape under the sign at the garden site. They help landscape around the space, move compost, and work the earth as a part of their annual Day of Service event each May. The FFA’s plant sale also provides each community gardener a $5 gift certificate for vegetable plants to get their gardens started.

-We are attempting to source local foods that could be served through a “harvest of the month” program next school year such as apples, spinach, etc.

The Badger FFA has been very fortunate to receive several grants that have assisted in implementation and progress of this project:

-Monsanto Rural Farmers Grow Education-Vertical farming equipment/supplies and greenhouse lighting/structures

-Wisconsin FFA Foundation- Vertical farming equipment

-Wisconsin Ag In the Classroom- Vermiculture supplies and apiculture (bee keeping) suit

-Walmart Foundation- Greenhouse

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-Blue Jackets FFA Foundation Chapter Program- Donation from Bill and Vickie York- Greenhouse supplies for raising produce

For news articles and press about the Badger Farm To School Program, please visit the following sites:

-RFD TV’s FFA Chapter Tribute- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBz4s7rQbw

-Walworth County Sunday and Gazette’s press article “Badger HS students growing knowledge and food”- http://walworth.www.clients.ellingtoncms.com/news/2013/feb/17/badger-hs-students-grownig-knowledge–and-food/

-Gazette article “Worms teach all about science”- http://gazettextra.com/news/2012/jan/09/worms-teach-all-about-science-vermiculture-classro/

Badger FFA hosted and assisted with two major Food For America events this past year. The Food For America Program is an educational opportunity focused on agricultural literacy in elementary schools and communities. It is a program developed to assist FFA members and all agricultural education students in leadership skill development as they reach out to youth, peers and their entire communities by sharing the world of agriculture.

The first annual event is “Agriscience Day” which is held in October each year where over 300 district 3rd grade students participate in learning about agriculture through various hands-on learning stations. The Badger FFA members teach the elementary schoolers about topics such as veterinary medicine, food science, plant science, aquaculture (fish farming), wisconsin agriculture commodities, and soil layers.

The second event that Badger FFA participates in is the Discovery Barn at the Walworth County Fair. The Badger FFA partners with Big Foot FFA to promote agriculture literacy to the local community families at the fair through demonstrations, animal exhibits, and knowledgable FFA members teaching the fair attendees about the various aspects of agriculture.

Just like any other organization we need to raise money to help provide the many opportunities to our members and community. A large portion of the money raised is used to reduce member costs of travel expenses associated with leadership and career development.

Our common fundraisers include:

1. Fall fruit, cheese and sausage sale: This is typically our largest fund-raiser. FFA members collect advance orders beginning in October with product delivery approximately the 2nd week of December. Our products make great holiday gifts.

2. Strawberry Sale: This fundraiser is held in February with March delivery. Enjoy fresh delicious Florida Strawberries while helping the FFA program.

3. Milk Vending Machine: A committee of FFA members services and maintains our chapter’s two vending machines.

4. FFA Plant Sale: The FFA chapter supports classroom instruction by investing in the materials for students to learn about commercial greenhouse production and sales. All students are provided a neat opportunity to learn about plants. Proceeds are invested in the next year’s crops and FFA programs.

5. Poinsettia and Wreath Sale: In late November and early December, FFA members construct holiday wreaths for sale to the public. The agriculture classes grow and maintain poinsettias to be sold locally.

6. WIX filters- Collect WIX filter box tops off of any filters and turn them into the FFA between January and April. WIX will donate $.25 per filter box top to the FFA chapter. WIX filters can be purchased at the following Lake Geneva locations: Bumper to Bumper.