Mr. Jay Borden (left) and Hannah Miller (right) in the Tallassee High School Courtyard.
Background
Jay Borden grew up in northern Illinois. He had a passion for veterinary medicine from a young age, so he enrolled in agriculture classes, not knowing what all he had signed up for. During that time, Borden fostered a love for FFA, its competitions and agriculture. At his first National FFA Convention, which was held in Kansas City, Mo., Borden visited every booth with a vet program. That search led Borden to Auburn University in Alabama. After realizing that physics was not his strong suit, Borden switched gears and decided to focus on his love of agriculture and FFA. Prior to becoming a state advisor, Borden taught agriculture for 24 years.
Personal Motivations
As a teacher, Borden’s students are what drive him. As an agriscience education administrator, helping students by helping educators is what guides him. Teachers have a huge impact on their students, so having excited, well-prepared educators means enthusiastic students.
About the Job
In his role as the Alabama FFA Association’s state advisor, Borden oversees curriculum, Career Readiness Indicators (CRIs) and FFA. He is currently going through the 43 available agriculture CRIs and seeing how effective they are for preparing students for the world of work. Borden is also responsible for planning and organizing Alabama’s FFA state convention, as well as district competitions.
FFA
During high school, Borden was shy and wanted to avoid public speaking as much as possible. FFA developed his speaking ability, built his confidence and helped him become a learned extrovert. Borden’s experiences in FFA prepared him for his position as an agriscience education administrator.
Supervised Agricultural Experiences are meant to prepare students for future careers. Members have been able to start businesses that bloom into careers after high school. Some give horseback riding lessons, and others repair small engines. A passion can become a fulfilling, rewarding career.
Challenges
One of the major challenges Alabama’s agricultural education system faces is the necessary shift in mindset. Agriscience is a science. Some teachers fully embrace that, while others are apprehensive.
Students love what they are doing in their agriculture classes and miss the connection with math and science classes. Borden believes that it is the responsibility of the teachers to connect the two, giving an application to theoretical classes and bridging the gap in vocabulary.
The Future
Agriculture is math, science and career tech, but none of these encompass the entirety of agriculture. Agriculture is so broad and diverse that there is a career for everybody.
Agriculture is changing every day, and technology is adding career opportunities. It is possible to get a certification as a drone pilot to water and fertilize crops. There are also new forms of clean energy being combined with agriculture. Instead of taking up huge areas of land, vertical panels can be placed with livestock or crops. This way, a farmer barely making ends meet could have an extra kick of income that may be the difference of farming or not.
