2024 Middle School (Grades 5-8) FFA Advisor Needs Assessment: Key Findings
In spring 2024, the National FFA Organization surveyed a national sample of 218 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers of fifth- to eighth-grade agriculture programs about program operations, student engagement, support, barriers, challenges, and resource needs.
Key Points
- Respondents reported an average of 234 students in their fifth- to eighth-grade agriculture programs, ranging from six to 900.
- Almost 90% offer agriculture as an elective, and nine in 10 programs use the three-component model.
- Funding was the most reported barrier (N=127), followed by students' varied knowledge levels and limited instruction time.
- Advisors reported high motivation (average 8.1 of 10), but 78% cited a lack of student motivation as their biggest classroom challenge.
- Top resource needs include developing SAE opportunities, preparing for career and leadership development events, and filling out FFA grants.
In spring 2024, the National FFA Organization surveyed a national sample of 218 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers of fifth- to eighth-grade agriculture programs. Questions on the survey inquired about how their program operates, student engagement, general support, barriers, challenges, and the resources educators use and are looking for. The following summary highlights some key results.
The survey received a national sample
The survey intentionally sought responses from teachers across the nation. The highest number of survey responses came from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
When asked to indicate approximately how many students are in their fifth- to eighth-grade agriculture programs, respondents reported an average of 234 students. Responses reflected a wide range, from six to 900 students.
The structure of middle school (grades 5-8) agriculture programs varies nationwide
Almost 90% of respondents (N=182) reported that their agriculture class is offered as an elective, while 13% said it is a required course.
Nine in 10 respondents reported that their agriculture program uses the three-component model.1 Nine percent reported that their chapter operates differently from the standard practice due to being newly chartered or facing limitations due to teacher or school capacity.
Engagement of fifth- to eighth-grade members in FFA
About 1 in 3 middle school students are actively engaged in their FFA chapter or chapter activities (34%), according to respondents. Responses ranged from 1% to 100%.
Almost half of the respondents (N=101) said they have a mentor relationship with a student in their district or school, but it is not through a formal mentorship program.
Teachers were asked to indicate if their fifth- to eighth-grade students participated in a list of various FFA events/contests and at which levels they had done so. Participation in FFA events or contests varied depending on the event or contest and the level at which it was held. The most commonly reported participation was at the chapter (officer positions and FFA degrees) or regional level (LDEs, CDEs and leadership conferences/camps).
Current barriers faced by middle school FFA advisors
Funding was the most reported barrier faced in middle school programs. The most commonly reported barriers were:
- Funding (N=127)
- Students’ varied knowledge levels (N=111)
- Limited class instruction time (N=94)
Respondents were asked to identify one barrier to having a successful middle school agriculture program that National FFA could assist with. Responses varied, though some recurring comments mentioned a lack of national opportunities, difficulty transitioning from middle school to high school, and a lack of resources for middle school students in general.
Current resource needs of middle school FFA advisors
Teachers identified the top five topics covered in their programs:
- Animal Science
- History of FFA
- Career Exploration
- Horticulture
- Agricultural Literacy
The top five areas with the greatest need for resources are:
- Developing SAE opportunities for students
- Preparing for career and leadership development events
- Filling out FFA grants
- Training chapter FFA officers
- Managing a local FFA chapter
The top three career pathways for which respondents want to see educational resources from National FFA are:
- Animal Systems
- Plant Systems
- Food Products and Processing Systems
Motivation and behavior of middle school agriculture teachers and students
Middle school (grades 5-8) agriculture teachers and FFA advisors reported an average motivation level of 8.1 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being unmotivated and 10 motivated.
73% of respondents reported that students in their classroom, school or district have been misbehaving a little or a lot more compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greatest challenges navigating middle school classrooms
Respondents were asked, overall, what their biggest challenge has been in navigating their middle school classroom within the last four years. They could select multiple options from a given list. The three biggest challenges chosen by the highest percentage of respondents were a lack of student motivation (78%, N=153), a lack of resources in the classroom (38%, N=74) and a lack of support from students’ parents/guardians (24%, N=48).
The National FFA Organization strives to understand the needs of agriculture teachers and FFA advisors of all grade levels. This was the first FFA middle school (grades 5-8) needs assessment conducted due to the increase in middle school chapters and the growing importance of providing fifth-to-eighth graders early exposure to agriculture and FFA.
