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Feature Stories
Every student. Every classroom. Every day | Leadership skills: Essentials for student success
Achieving the standard: Moving toward 100 percent FFA involvement
Serving Authentic Leadership at National Convention
FFA and leadership for all – Making the dream a reality
~ A Note from the Editor
Every student. Every classroom. Every day. How many times have you heard this mantra and thought, “Yeah, right! If only…” The National Quality Program Standards states that “ALL students participate in year-round intra-curricular agricultural student organization programs and activities.” That doesn’t mean that only the stand-outs or a few elite students participate. But you’re only one person; how can you possibly teach lessons, grade papers, review record books, perform labs and make sure that your students are participating in leadership activities and FFA?
Naturally, the latter seems to be the one that falls to the wayside.
FFA involvement and activities that develop leadership skills in your student are vital to the personal growth and well-roundedness of your students. You might have a kid who is horticulture genius. But if he’s terrified of speaking in public or even in small groups, he likely wouldn’t make it past the initial interview at a competition; or even worse, at a potential job.
You can’t make a student into a leader. But, you CAN give him the opportunity to develop the skills he needs to explore his potential. This issue of Making a Difference is devoted to helping you help your students by utilizing FFA and other leadership activities.
Schools like Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyo., and Douglas High School in Minden, Nev., create an immediate FFA opportunity for students. When a student enrolls in an agricultural education class, he or she automatically becomes an FFA member. In both schools, FFA content is built into the agricultural education curriculum. Read Leadership skills: Essentials for student success, and learn what some schools are doing to promote FFA and leadership development and how they keep members engaged.
Is having 100 percent of your agriculture students as FFA members a dream? Find out how to make it a reality by reading Achieving the standard: Moving toward 100 percent FFA involvement.
Each year, tens of thousands of students come to the national FFA convention. Read Serving Authentic Leadership at National Convention to see how some advisors make the experience a lesson in leadership development instead of just a few days away from school.
In our Perspectives piece this month, Kristyn Harms, Nebraska agriculture educator, shares with us her experience in getting acquainted with FFA and gives some advice on how you can maximize your efforts to incorporate FFA and student leadership in your classroom.
Bridging classroom content into FFA activities is one of the more challenging aspects of being an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. FFA activities and fundraisers all too often become a survival test for the advisor, moving them into a “just-get-it-done” mentality. Turn these activities into valuable learning opportunities for students by utilizing LifeKnowledge materials. Learn more in this month’s LifeKnowledge Spotlight.
And finally, check out the Question for the Profession, where we ask, “Are the standards in leadership development too much?” What do you think? We would love to hear what you’ve got to say. After all, you’re on the front lines!
We at Making a Difference hope you have a happy and enjoyable holiday season with your families. See you next year!
Amber Striegel
Editor