Agricultural Education

The Agricultural Education Mission

Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.

Through agricultural education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:

  • Classroom/Laboratory instruction (contextual learning)

  • Supervised Agricultural Experience programs (work-based learning)

  • Student leadership organizations (National FFA Organization, National Young Farmer Educational Association and National Post-secondary Agricultural Student Organization).

Agricultural education is a systematic program of instruction available to students desiring to learn about the science, business, technology of plant and animal production and/or about the environmental and natural resources systems. Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. Today, over 800,000 students participate in formal agricultural education instructional programs offered in grades seven-adult throughout the 50 states and three U. S. territories.

Team Ag Ed is a united effort in promoting local program success and includes the following organizations and groups:

The National Council for Agricultural Education is the premier leadership organization for shaping and strengthening school-based agricultural education at all levels in the United States.

All Content on this Page is from the National FFA Organization.