Securing Favorable Legislation for Agricultural Education

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Securing Favorable Legislation for Agricultural
Education

• Kentuckys Perspective
• National Ag Ed Summit
• February 6, 2009

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Relationships The Key

• Within Team Ag Ed
• Within Agriculture
• Within Education
• Within State Government
• To the General Public

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Team Ag Ed in Kentucky

• Ag Ed State Staff
• Ag Ed Teacher Educators
• Ag Teachers (KVATA)
• KY FFA Foundation
• KY FFA Alumni
• KY Department of Agriculture
• Kentucky Farm Bureau
• Farm Credit Services
• KY Association FFA

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Look for New Opportunities
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KY Ag Development Board
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KY Ag Development Board

• Established as results of National Tobacco
  Companies Settlement with States
• In Kentucky, 50 of the Total has been Designated
  for Agricultural Development
• Both Statewide and County Level Pools of
  Money are Available

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Ag Ed Projects Funded Statewide

• Endowment for KY FFA Foundation 2 million
• Funding to Purchase CAERT Curriculum Tools 250
  K
• Funding for Improvements to KY FFA Leadership
  Training Center 2 million
• Funding to Support Projects at KY Universities in
  Agriculture ????? (Millions)

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Ag Ed Projects Funded County Level

• Over 75 Projects
• Total Funding over 3 million
• Types of Projects Greenhouses, Technology
  Upgrades, Aquaculture Projects, School Farm
  Improvements, etc.

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Kentucky Agriculture Council
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Kentucky Agriculture Council

• Umbrella Organization of over 50 Agricultural
  Organizations
• Charged by the Governor to Develop a Strategic
  Plan for Agriculture
• Ag Ed Represented by Secondary Ag Ed/KVATA
  FFA FFA Foundation Adult Ag/YFA 5 four-year
  Universities Community Colleges Extension/4-H

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KY Agriculture Council Results

• Agricultural Education named as one of six
  Core Strategies in the 2007-2012 Strategic Plan
• University Needs listed among Initial Top 10
  Priority Needs
• Elementary, Middle School, High School and Adult
  Ag Education are Positioned well for Legislative
  Requests for Funding in Future Years

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Our Number 1 Champion/Advocate
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Kentucky Farm Bureau
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Results of KY Farm Bureau Legislative Efforts for
Ag Ed

• Year Long Extended Employment for Agricultural
  Education Teachers is in State Law
• CTE Program Standards (including Ag Ed) are
  Spelled out in State Statute
• Most Funding Obtained Through the Above Mentioned
  Sources

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Misc. Thoughts

• Generally, State Staff Can Not Lobby
  Legislature as a State Employee.but,
• Any Private Citizen Can Lobby Their Legislators
• Past FFA Members/State Officers in the
  Legislature Are Very Valuable Allies
• Well Organized Ag. Teacher Advocacy Efforts Have
  Been Key for KY in Securing KY Farm Bureau
  Legislative Priorities

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Misc. Thoughts (cont.)

• Utilize FFA For P.R. Advantages
• Members of Foundation Boards, Alumni Councils,
  etc. are Often Great Legislative Contact Persons
• Develop Relationships with Legislators Before You
  Call on Them for Help

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Websites

• www.kyffa.org
• www.kyfb.com
• http//kyagcouncil.org/
• http//www.agpolicy.ky.gov/board/
• http//www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/705/004/231.htm
• http//www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/705/004/081.htm
• http//www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/1572D00/360.pdf

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Thank you!