FFA Handbook

The Agricultural Education Program is comprised of three parts these being classroom/laboratory, SAE, and FFA.  All three of these programs complement and build off each other and students are expected to participate in all three parts and will be evaluated on all three parts that make up the total program.  When the three parts are properly implemented, student education is maximized.   Students learn important academic, career, technical, and life skills when all types of instruction are used.

Classroom Courses Offered

8th or 9th Grade  - Introduction to Agriculture

AFTER Intro to Ag, then there are 3 current pathways for you to take classes in:

Plant/Crop Science - Plant/Soil Science, Plant Science Growth & Development, 

3 Circle Model

Classroom/ Laboratory Grade

The classroom grade will be based on student performance on tests, quizzes, projects, in-class assignments, lab work, homework, and class participation. 

When working in lab situations, student’s grades will be determined by their work ethic and time they spend on task as well as the accurateness/completeness and quality of work that they complete.

Work will be considered late when not turned in by the date requested. Points will be deducted from the student’s grade if work is late. It is the student’s responsibility to get any make-up work if they are absent. 

Supervised Agricultural Experience

The Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn about agriculture in real-life settings. Students have the opportunity to design an SAE program that fits their individual interests and needs. ALL SAEs MUST BE IN AN AGRICULTURALLY RELATED FIELD AND MUST BE APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR AND PARENTS. Each student is required to record a minimum of 10 hours in an approved SAE each semester.

How do I select an SAE?

You should select an SAE that is related to something in which you have interest. There are countless examples of SAE’s and things have yet to be done, so be creative. An SAE is great way to gain experience for a job or career, but it can also be a great way to make money if you desire. Students will go through a unit of instruction on SAE’s. This unit will teach the many dynamics and types of SAE’s that are out there. Keep in mind that you don’t have to work on farm, live in the country, or own animals to have an SAE!

SAE EXAMPLES

Job Placement SAE

Job Placement SAEs involve working for another individual or company as a paid or non-paid employee. Examples: Working at a local farm, farm market, golf course, landscaping company, greenhouse or agricultural business.

Animal Production Entrepreneurship SAE

Animal Production SAEs involve raising an animal or group of animals for agricultural uses (no pets). Examples: Cattle, swine, sheep, rabbits, chickens, goats, horses, ostriches, llamas, pigeons, and other farm or exotic animals. Students have the opportunity to exhibit these projects at the fair if they so desire.

Crop Production Entrepreneurship SAE

Crop Production SAEs involve raising crops for agricultural uses. Examples: Corn, wheat, hay, flowers, garden vegetables, fruit, etc. 

Research SAE

Research SAEs involve conducting an experiment using the scientific method. Examples: exploring the effects of light, fertilizer, or temperature on plants, conducting feed trials on animals, etc.

Home/ Community/ Farm Improvement SAEs

Each year, agricultural education students are required to complete 15 hours of home, farm and/or community improvement. These hours are to be recorded in a record book. These are to hours of unpaid labor that you perform to make permanent improvement to something. Examples can include: painting, landscaping, construction, roofing, FFA related community service activities such as nursing home, farm day clean-up, toys for tots, can food drive and etc., adopt-a-highway, church community service activities and many others. Home improvement projects that are not permitted include things that are not permanent improvements like mowing your yard or cleaning your house. 

 FFA Participation

FFA is an intracurricular, meaning that it is part of the Agricultural Education Curriculum. When students enroll in an agriculture class, they automatically become part of the FFA and pay their due. Therefore, this portion of the program is graded by participation in FFA activities. Points are awarded each semester for FFA activity. Each month there will be an FFA meeting and members are expected to be in attendance, if a student can not attend the meeting, the student must notify an advisor before the meeting that they will not be in attendance to be excused by signing the sheet posted in the classrooms. Members are expected to participate in at least three FFA activities per semester to meet the grade portion of FFA. FFA activities will support and enhance what is being taught in the classroom as well as allow you to have some fun. 

FFA Leadership and Travel Opportunities

Summer Outdoor Leadership Retreat - July

State FFA Convention - April

National Convention - October

Washington Leadership Converence - June/July

This is a one-week, action packed leadership conference in our nation’s capitol during the summer. FFA members from all over the nation learn valuable skills in personal development, motivation, leadership, teamwork, citizenship, and goal-setting through high intensity, interactive workshops. The students also tour the capitol city and meet with members of Congress.

Approximate Cost: $1700 per person, Summer

Chapter Leadership Roles

Each FFA member has a chance to be a part of a committee or serve as a committee chair, assistant officer, or Chapter Officer. In any role students learn valuable skills that will help them succeed in life.

Cost: Varies

Career Development Events

Career Development Events are essentially contests in which students apply skills and knowledge they have learned in class to a competitive situation. These teams will practice prior to an event and most will compete on the district level with the chance to compete at the state contest depending on their placing.

The FFA Banquet is a mandatory event designed to recognize all of the accomplishments members have made throughout the year, induct new chapter officers, and give awards. It also includes an auction. Parents are invited and a meal is provided. Date-March 8th.

FFA Meetings occur each month and every member is required to attend each one. The Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, Sentinel, and Student Advisor will have reports along with each of our committees. Business will be brought forward and voted on. We will also be honoring a member of the month at each meeting. Recreation, including softball, bowling, and other activities will be offered before or after each meeting. Dates-See Below

The Greenhand ( 8th and 9th) Degree Ceremony is for first year FFA members. Members and their parents enjoy a special ceremony in which each Greenhand receives their FFA degree. The ceremony is a celebration of each new member’s hard work and accomplishments. Date- end of January

The Member of the Month Award is an award that recognizes members who have excelled in FFA throughout the month and for those who have gone above and beyond their responsibilities as an FFA member. Members selected receive a plaque and an FFA t-shirt They are usually recognized at each meeting and have their picture placed in the Ag Room and local newspaper.  

National FFA Week occurs during February and is celebrated throughout the nation. The Versailles FFA selects their officers during this week and has a JH FFA and Versailles FFA party to celebrate. Members enjoy a variety of activities that teach them about FFA as well as cake and ice cream. Date- Week of George Washington Birthday.

Field Trip Procedures 

1. ALL SCHOOL RULES APPLY. Failure to comply with rules while on a field trip can result in punishment such as detention, extra assignments, Saturday School, termination of FFA membership, suspension of field trip opportunities, and others depending on the severity of the behavior. If the behavior is severe enough, you parent/ guardian could be asked to come and pick you up from the activity immediately.

2. All students will complete a trips release form that will be kept on file in the Ag Dept. Once this form has been signed by the parent or guardian, this will serve as the permission slip for attending all FFA field trips.

3. Many opportunities are subsidized by the FFA Chapter. If you make a commitment to go on a trip (by signing up) and don’t attend the function, you will be responsible for paying the chapter for the full cost of the activity Program Expectations and Consequences.

The following are four expectations to which we will abide by in and out of class when associated with the Agricultural Education program, which includes, but is not limited to class, lab, FFA activities, and field trips.

1. Show respect for the teacher, fellow students, your surroundings, and yourself.

2. Do not interfere with the teacher’s teaching or any other student’s learning.

3. Have a positive attitude.

4. Follow all safety rules that are given.

The following consequences will occur for improper classroom behavior

Verbal warning to student

Change student’s seat (if appropriate)

Detention after school

Call home to parent to discuss the situation

Student will be sent to office for discipline 

The following consequences will occur for improper behavior in the lab:

– Verbal warning to student

– Student is sent to the classroom for 1 period and must record

definitions out of a book. The student will lose credit for the class period.

 If a student does not complete the assignment given, he/she will be given another

 day in the classroom until the assignment is finished.

– Student is sent to the classroom for 1 week and must record

definitions out of a book. The student will lose credit for the week.

If a student does not complete the assignment, he/she will be given

another week in the classroom until the assignment is finished.

– Student will be sent to the classroom for the remainder of the

class’s lab time, and will not receive weekly points or credit for the

project being done in the lab.

 **Severe misbehavior and/or failure to abide by safety guidelines may result in skipping any step(s) as deemed appropriate by the teacher.**