Governor Rendell Proclaims FFA Week, 'Teach Ag' Day

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Citing the need to engage and train the next generation of agricultural leaders, Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed Feb. 20-27 as "FFA Week" and Feb. 25 as "Teach Agriculture Day" in Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania's $5.8 billion agriculture industry is vital to our state's economy and local communities," Governor Rendell said. "It is imperative that we have a pipeline of talent ready to enter the agriculture workforce.  

"The Pennsylvania FFA Association and the state's dedicated agricultural educators equip students with the leadership skills, subject knowledge and real world experience needed to succeed and keep Pennsylvania growing."

The National FFA Association, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, boasts more than 500,000 members in all 50 states, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Pennsylvania is home to nearly 8,000 members in 148 chapters.

The organization provides students with leadership development opportunities through classroom instruction, career development contests – including public speaking and business management – and real world agricultural career placement.

In proclaiming FFA Week, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Governor Rendell is encouraging all Pennsylvanians to recognize the vital role the youth organization plays in developing past, present and future agricultural leaders.

"As a former FFA member, I know first-hand the hard work our FFA members put into developing their leadership and career potential; it is impressive and much appreciated," said Redding. "FFA members are the future of our agriculture industry, and we must continue to support them as they grow in their skills and knowledge."

Activities are scheduled throughout the week to commemorate the organization's achievements and raise awareness about its mission, including:

• Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 8:30 a.m. – FFA state officers will deliver members' food donations to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg;
• Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. – FFA Night at various Hoss's Steak & Sea House locations;
• Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:50 a.m. – Redding will teach an agriculture course and interact with students at Gettysburg High School, Adams County; and
• Friday, Feb. 26 – state agriculture officials will teach agriculture courses at Red Lion High School in York County at 8 a.m., and Big Spring High School in Cumberland County, at 9 a.m.

For more information about FFA Week events or about the Pennsylvania FFA Association, visit www.paffa.state.pa.us or contact Mike Brammer, executive manager, at 717-705-9551.

For more information about the state's agricultural education initiatives, visit www.MarketplacefortheMind.com.

Editor's Note: Below is the text of the Governor's proclamation marking Feb. 20-27 as "FFA Week" and Feb. 25 as "Teach Agriculture Day" in Pennsylvania.

FFA WEEK - February 20-27, 2010

TEACH AGRICULTURE DAY - February 25, 2010

WHEREAS, The FFA, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national agricultural education organization 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; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania FFA Association is an integral part of the organized instructional program in agricultural career and technical education in our schools and helps ensure a steady supply of young professionals to meet the growing demands in the science, business and technology of agriculture; and

WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania FFA Association boasts nearly 8,000 members in more than 140 rural and urban chapters statewide; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of dedicated agriculture teachers, students learn by doing in the classroom, by participating in Career Development Events and through Supervised Agricultural Experiences; and

WHEREAS, FFA members play valuable roles in their local communities by participating in service projects. Members raise awareness about hunger by volunteering at food pantries and soup kitchens, serve as environmental stewards by removing litter from local roadways, and educate local farmers about farm safety; and

WHEREAS, the FFA motto – "learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live, living to serve" – equips the students of today with the tools to be the effective leaders of tomorrow.

THEREFORE, In recognition of the importance of the Pennsylvania FFA Association to developing past, present, and future agricultural leaders, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim February 20-27, 2010, FFA WEEK and February 25, 2010, as TEACH AGRICULTURE DAY in Pennsylvania.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this nineteenth day of February in the Year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

EDWARD G. RENDELL, Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor