26
—Lancaster harming, Saturday,February 17,1979
Penn Manor is ready for National FFA Week
By SALLY BAIR
Staff Writer
MILLEBSVILLE
Members of the Penn Manor
Chapter of the Future
Farmers of America are
taking advantage of FPA
Week to tell students and the
general public more about
vocational agriculture.
According to Gus Birchler,
FFA advisor and' vo-ag
teacher at Penn Manor, the
students have prepared a
series of posters for use in
the school cafeteria and a
window display in the
library “to educate other
students.” They also have
two radio programs planned.
Birchler said they hope “to
make students aware of the
week, and of the agriculture
program. We want them to
associate vo-ag students
with agriculture, and they
have selected such themes
for the posters as ‘Youth
with a Purpose’ and
‘Agriculture- A New
Generation.’ ”
On Wednesday of FFA
Week, every one of the 165
FFA members will wear
their FFA jacket (or a suit>
to bring recognition to the
group.
In the library display,
FFA students included the
symbols used by each officer
as well as some of the more
outstanding trophies won by
the chapter. There is also an
FFA jacket and an ex
planation of its symbols. -
Norman Zink, Conestoga R 2,
and Brian Martin, Conestoga
Rl, explained that the
kernels surrounding the
insignia show that com is
found in every state. The owl
portrays wisdom and the
plough the tillage of the soil.
The eagle represents the
United States and the rising
sun symbolizes a new era in
agriculture.
The radio programs are
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Norman Zink, Conestoga R 2; on the ieft, and Brian Martin, Conestoga R 2,
prepare to place some of the statues in the library display window to finish their
FFA Week display.
interviews with students
done with WDAC and WSBA.
These shows, taped by
telephone, are designed to
inform the public about the
FFA program and its
various projects.
Penn Manor, which has
four teachers in the vo-ag
department, is one of the
oldest chapters in the
county, and will be
celebrating its fiftieth an
niversary next year. The
national organization
celebrated 50 years in 1978.
Birchler said he feels that
FFA has a positive image at
Penn Manor, greatly
enhanced by their very
active participation in
“building a better com
munity.” This community
service work includes
stocking and maintaining
fish in the fishing streams of
the district as well as
providing helping hands to
e ar hands
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Fallston, Md. 21047
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farm families which may
encounter problems such as
fire or other disaster. “We
are willing to do whatever
we can to help families,”
Birchler stated.
The group also helps
poultry farmers to move
chickens, and this money
helps defray costs of some
other programs the students
participate in. They are
involved in the FFA citrus
sale and hold a large
banquet each spring to honor
the young people. “Many
youngsters have a chance to
be recognized there as well
as their families and the
people who- have helped
throughout the year,”
Birchler noted.
Birchler, who is in his
tenth year as vo-ag teacher
there, has seen some in
teresting jphanges. When he
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first began his vo-ag career
there, there were 95 per cent ~
farm youth enrolled in FFA
and 5 per cent non-farm.
Now, he said, there are 45
per cent farm youth and 55
per cent non-farm youth.
He attributes this large
turn-around to the fact that -
at one time vocational
agriculture could teach only
production agriculture. Now
that they teach agri
business, the interest has
changed. Birchler noted that
agri-business is a growing
entity in the Lancaster ai'ea,
and he said there is in
creased interest in jobs in
that area because “good jobs
can be had without a four
year college degree.”
And jobs are not hard to
find for graduates witlragri- •
business backgrounds.
“Many people come here
looking for employees. We
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
Your HOLLAND dealer.
are able to place all our business,” he said, adding,
seniors who want jobs. Abovtt “We have highly motivated
88 percent go on to jobs in ag studentsin this area.”