2018 October Issue PASO Magazine

OAK LEAF | EDUCATION
The Importance of Agricultural Education
James J. Brescia Ed.D
SLO County
Office of Education
Superintendent
I
recently overheard a local Agricultural
Education teacher
describe her service as a Future
Farmers of America (FFA) Advisor.
I was surprised at how many people
indicated they had not heard of
FFA or Career and Technical Education
(CTE). Agricultural Education
is far more important than just
an elective class.
Our daily needs such as food,
clothing, medicine, and even the
paper this article was printed on require
agriculture. The National FFA
is one of the largest youth-led organizations
in the United States. In
1988 “National” was added to the
name of the association to represent
the large number of participants
that have swelled the ranks off FFA
members to 653,359 representing
8,568 local chapters throughout the
United States, Puerto Rico, and the
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Growing up in the Santa Clara
Valley in the 1960s was very reminiscent
of living and raising our
family in Paso Robles for the past
30 years. Agriculture is a significant
portion of the county’s total direct
economic output.
This year’s Mid State Fair 4-H
and FFA sales topped $2.2 million.
Even during the height of the
drought county agriculture produced
nearly $1 billion dollars in
product. According to the County
Agricultural Report, indirect
business tax payments related to
agriculture have totaled more than
$45.9 million. Our schools have
embraced the agricultural history
of our county and developed highquality,
cutting-edge programs
preparing our youth for not only
advances in agriculture but new
technology and beyond. Several of
our recent valedictorians have been
actively involved in agriculture,
FFA, and CTE.
North County schools have
consistently embraced, advocated
for, and led highly successful agricultural
education programs. At a
time in our history when the majority
of our U.S. population is far
removed from the land, schools on
the Central Coast are continuing
to promote interest, awareness,
and involvement in agriculture. It
is essential that we educate about
where our food comes from beyond
the local market shelf. A Shandon
rancher, I spoke with last month
said: “If you like to eat, then you
should like agriculture.” It is the
responsibility of educators, farmers,
ranchers, and all directly involved
with land to tell the story of
our family farms, ranches, and the
people who care for this valuable
commodity right here on the Central
Coast.
By embracing programs such as
FFA, agriculture education, and
CTE, today’s educators create socially
interactive environments that
maintain discipline, create learning
“fun,” and teach the positive use of
new technologies that benefit our
daily lives.
As we move forward into a new
school year, I thank you for your
continued support of education,
our community, and our democracy.
It is an honor to serve as your San
Luis Obispo County Superintendent
of Schools.
44 | pasomagazine.com PASO Magazine, October 2018