Why 4H and FFA

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Why 4-H and FFA?
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Reasons for 4-H FFA

• There are four major reasons underlying why there
  are 4-H and FFA programs
  
• Psychological
• Educational
• Philosophical
• Legal/Policy

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Psychological Basis for FFA 4-H
FFA and 4-H helps young people fulfill all levels
of Maslows Hierachy of Needs.
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Educational Basis for FFA 4-H

• 4-H and FFA is a powerful manifestation of the
  Stimulus-Response Learning Theory
  
• 4-H and FFA Instruction is the stimulus
• Student projects are the response
• 4-H and FFA awards are the reinforcement

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Philosophical Basis for FFA 4-H

• 4-H and FFA is rooted in the philosophy of
  pragmatism.
  
• The truth is what works in the real world. Ideas
  and thoughts are nice but until they are actually
  applied in a real world setting they are of
  little value. 4-H and FFA promote the
  application of knowledge.

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Legal/policy basis for 4-H

• 4-H is recognized as an integral part of the
  extension service by the federal government.
  
• A. The Federal Government provided personnel to
  organize and operate the 4-H program initially.
  They still do today.

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Legal/policy basis for 4-H

• B. Federal laws provide funding specifically for
  4-H and recognize 4-H as a function of
  cooperative extension.
  
• Capper-Ketcham Act (1928)
• Consolidation Act of 1953

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Legal/policy basis for 4-H

• C. Policy and binding decisions are made through
  the Extension Committee on Policy (ECOP) which is
  a joint committee of USDA and NASULGC.
  
• D. The head 4-H official is located in the USDA
  along with a substantial staff who have 4-H
  responsibilities.
  

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Legal/policy basis for 4-H

• 4-H is recognized as an integral part of the
  extension service by the state government.
  
• A. Special state appropriations are made to
  support 4-H activities
  
• B. NCSU has an entire department devoted to 4-H

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Legal/policy basis for FFA

• 1. The FFA is recognized as an integral part of
  the curriculum by the federal government.
  
• A. The Federal Government was responsible for
  establishing the FFA. Agricultural education
  leaders with the Federal Board for Vocational
  Education provided the leadership for the
  establishment of the FFA.

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Legal/policy basis for FFA...

• B. The George-Barden Act of 1946 states federal
  funds can be expended on "supervision by the
  vocational agriculture teacher of the activities,
  related to vocational education in agriculture,
  of the Future Farmers of America and the New
  Farmers of America".
• How many "clubs" have provisions in federal law
  authorizing federal expenditures on "club"
  activities?
  

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Legal/policy basis for FFA...

• C. The FFA has a Federal Charter (Public Law
  740)
  
• Sec. 18 "The United States Commissioner of
  Education . . . is authorized to make available
  personnel, services, and facilities of the Office
  of Education . . . to administer or assist in the
  administration of the business and activities of
  the corporation."
• Sec. 8 requires Federal education officials to be
  part of the governing structure of the FFA.

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Legal/policy basis for FFA....

• D. United States Department of Education Policy
  states that FFA is intracurricular.

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Legal/policy basis for FFA...

• 2. The FFA is recognized as an integral part of
  the curriculum by the state government
  
• A. The State Board of Education in North Carolina
  has approved the Workforce Development Education
  - Program of Study and Support Services Guide
  which states FFA activities are an integral part
  of the agricultural education program

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Legal/policy basis for FFA...

• B. The state (NC) approved curriculum guides in
  agriculture include content on the FFA and it is
  recognized as an integral part of the program.
  
• C. The state plan for vocational education (which
  must be approved by the state and federal
  government) includes vocational youth
  organization activities.
• D. The state legislature has appropriated funds
  specifically to support FFA activities
  

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Legal/policy basis for FFA...

• 3. The courts have ruled that FFA is
  intracurricular and is an integral part of the
  educational program.
  
• A student in Texas who was active in the FFA
  moved to a new school. The school had vocational
  agriculture but no FFA. He brought a lawsuit
  against the school and won. The school had to
  start a FFA chapter.

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How do young people benefit from membership in
the FFA 4-H?
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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Provides for personal development. Young people
  grow and mature through 4-H and FFA. These
  organizations help in the maturation process.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops people skills that can be used
  throughout life such as learning to work in teams
  and how to set and achieve goals as a group. 4-H
  and FFA promote the development of interpersonal
  relationship skills.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops leadership skills. Research has shown
  that membership in FFA and 4-H develops
  leadership skills. Members are more likelyto be
  community leadersin the future.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Provides for experiential learning. In 4-H and
  FFA students learn new information through a
  hands-on approach.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops responsibility. FFA and 4-H members
  learn to be responsible for their actions. For
  the organization to succeed each member has to do
  his/her part.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Helps make learning fun. Not only is learning
  enhanced if it experiential, it is also
  enhanced if it can be made enjoyable. Many
  educational activities in 4- H and FFA are fun
  thus learning is improved.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Farm and home life is improved. When students
  apply what they have learned in 4-H and FFA at
  home, life is improved. This can be in the inner
  city, suburbs or in rural areas. 4-H was
  originally used to teach parents new
  agricultural and home economics practices through
  the children. That still happens today.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops self-confidence. When 4-H and FFA
  members experience success in their endeavors,
  they gain a new sense of self-confidence in
  their abilities.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Provides recognition. Many young people have
  never won a single award or recognition. Through
  youth organization activities, young people have
  a chance to receive recognition. This is an
  important part of developing into a
  well-balanced individual.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Provides a positive atmosphere. Young people
  today come from a variety of backgrounds not all
  of which are desirable or healthy. The FFA and
  4-H often provides the only nurturing and
  positive atmosphere the young person will
  experience.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops a sense of community and volunteerism.
  Community improvement and development is a
  hallmark characteristic of both 4-H and FFA.
  Through participation in these activities the
  young person learns that he or she is part of a
  larger community.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Improves communication and decision making
  skills. Public speaking and participation in
  meetings is encouraged in the youth
  organizations. In these activities students
  learn to think on their feet and make quick
  decisions.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Cultivate new friends and develop respect for
  others. Life long friendships develop through 4-H
  and FFA activities. Young people also learn how
  to interact with their peers.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Promotes career awareness. By participating in
  FFA and 4-H activities, young people become aware
  of new career opportunities.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Learn to be more accepting of other cultures and
  diversity. By participating in youth organization
  activities outside the local area, young people
  are exposed to different cultures. At the
  national FFA convention some FFA chapters
  purposely have meals with other FFA chapters
  who are culturally different.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develop parliamentary procedure skills and the
  ability to run a meeting. No matter what a person
  does in life, a knowledge of parliamentary
  procedure and how to conduct a meeting are
  valuable skills.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Agricultural Literacy. Many 4-H and FFA members
  do not end up in agricultural careers. However,
  their participation in 4-H and FFA activities
  makes them better informed consumers, more
  knowledgeable of agriculture, and more
  appreciative of the nations agricultural
  heritage.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Develops skills and responsibilities associated
  with being a role model and mentor. There are
  numerous 4-H and FFA activities where older
  members work with younger members and elementary
  school children.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Earn scholarships and money. Through
  participation in FFA and 4-H activities, young
  people have the opportunity to earn scholarships
  and cash prizes for their efforts.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Fosters a sense of belonging. It is human nature
  to want to be accepted. Young people want to be
  part of a group. The FFA and 4-H provide a much
  more desirable way to belong to a group than the
  alternatives such as gangs.

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Benefits of 4-H and FFA

• Have the opportunity to travel. Many young
  people, even in this day and age, go on their
  first real trip of first overnight trip away from
  home while participating in 4-H and FFA
  activities. There is also the opportunity for
  international travel.

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In Conclusion

• In a commentary in Education Week (September 26,
  1984) Stuart Rosenfield stated that agricultural
  education was a model for education reform. He
  praised the FFA for developing leadership. If
  people would learn more about the MODERN day FFA
  and 4-H program, they would recognize the
  importance of these programs in developing our
  young people.