National “Most Americans know very little about agriculture, its social and economic significance in the United States, and particularly, its links to human health and envir onmental quality,” according to the recently published study of agricultural education in secon dary schools by the National Research'Board of the National Academy of Sciences. To achieve a “vision of what agricultural education is and should become at the secondary level if a competitive agricultural industry is to survive in this coun try,” the national study of agricul tural education outlined a set of recommendations for vocational agriculture and the FFA that builds “on the programs and approaches of the past but goes beyond them in scope and con tent.” The challenge given to the FFA and vocational agriculture is being met with innovative and aggressive initiatives in agrisci ence, marketing, and international agriculture. The stakes are considerable. According to government figures cited by the study, “U.S. industries that serve agriculture by produc ing, processing, marketing, and preparing food and fiber products for consumers account for about $7OO billion in economic activity each year, which is about 16.5 per cent of the gross national pro duct” Some 20 percent of the nation’s workforce is engaged in occupations directly related to agriculture. After documenting “disturbing trends,” the study committee advocated a national goal of achieving “agricultural literacy,” a task which would extend the teaching of agricultural concepts to all levels of public education and broaden the scope of voca tional agriculture and FFA programs. ‘This study represents a land mark in the evolution of agricul tural education in the United States,” said Dr. Larry D. Case, national FFA advisor, “because it makes three important statements: agriculture is important to our nation; education in and about agriculture is vital for all Ameri cans; and vocational agriculture and die FFA have made—and are continuing to make major con tributions to both the industry and the cause of agricultural literacy.” The current model of vocational agriculture, developed over the past 60 years, combines the three elements of classroom and labor atory instruction, a supervised occupational experience program for each student, and participation in the FFA, the organization for students of vocational agriculture. Its success has implications for all of education. “Vocational agricul ture characteristically includes many of the activities and approaches currently recom mended for the improvement of secondary education in general: training for leadership and entre preneurship, longer periods of time devoted daily to education, a problem-solving approach to learning, high quality teachers, and greater cooperation with the private sector,” said Stuart Rosen feld, Deputy Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board and a member of the Academy study panel. The study, commenced almost four years ago, made specific recommendations that vocational agriculture programs and the FFA should continue to broaden their activities and programs of instruc- Study Supports Changes For Education tion and go well beyond providing education in production agricul ture alone. A number of innova tive programs, including Walter Biddle Saul High School in Phil adelphia and The Chicago High School for the Agricultural Sci ences, were cited as “successful, high-quality, agriculture educa tion programs that have combined strengths of the traditional voca tional program model with new approaches and broadened curri cula.” The two programs have the first and third largest FFA chap ters in the nation, respectively. “One of the most exciting aspects of the study is that it draws public attention to the successes of the vocational agriculture model and highlights the changes already taking place in FFA and many of the instructional programs,” said Case, the senior program special ist for Agriculture, Agribusiness and Natural Resources, USDE. “The National FFA Organization is already well on its way along the course recommended by the study panel.” According to Case, the National FFA Organization has been con ducting a comprehensive review of current contest and award pro- Guard BY ROBERT E. LEIBY, DAVID L. DUNBAR Lehigh County Extension Agents A number of Pennsylvania farmers lose fingers, hands, arms and even feet in com harvesting equipment each year. Some lose their lives. Nearly all of the acci dents are preventable, but risk taking, carelessness, or lack of knowledge allow them to happen. Such tragedies can be prevented, however, especially if farm work ers understand the hazards these machines present and practice the safety precautions needed to avoid them. Cornpickers are usually involved in most severe com harvesting accidents, mainly because of their easily clogging gathering mechanisms. Character istically, compicking accidents occur when the snapping rolls become plugged and the operator tries to remove debris or corn stalks while the machine is still running. grams, and is developing new ones to address and support edu cation in agriscience, marketing, computers and agricultural tech nology. “Over the last three to five years we have looked at our twenty-nine proficiency awards and twelve national contest prog rams and restructured them to emphasize elements of business management and competencies in the agricultural sciences,” said Coleman Harris, national FFA executive secretary. “The FFA Computers In Agriculture award and seminar programs are encour aging our students to study and apply computer technology in agriculture,” Harris explained. “In 1987, FFA instituted a national award program which recognizes teachers for excellence in their instruction of agriscience. It is the first program FFA has developed to recognize teachers. This year, the organization is initiating the first recognition program for stu dents in agriscience. Plans have just been finalized for several agricultural commodities and marketing competitions this com ing year.” The study panel hailed the development by the FFA of the Ag Ed Network, a computer based Against Corn As he tugs at a plugged stalk or weed, the snapping rolls suddenly free up and begin to roll, yanking stalks or weeds forward at nearly ten feet per second. Before the operator can release his grip, his hand and arm have traveled about three and a half feet and into the machine. To make matters worse, once he is entangled in the machine it is often a very difficult and time consuming task to get him out. Fortunately, avoiding accidents like this is easy. Simply 3 GREAT HEATERS! g=JJF*3O~'6'FF'V • HEATER I I With Coupon - Model HMFI3 * I M,r L,st ~ 5349 ° ur l ° w pr,ce s24 ® i \S2 " I ONLY $9l Q WITH COUPON I ■I V Expries 1-14-89 I • Circulating Fan • Removable Fuel Fank UiDIM CEMUHC KITER 3* • S YR. WARRANTY • NON-SHOCKINQ ELEMENT • QUIET POWERFUL FAN • COOL TO THE TOUCH • HEATS A LARGE ROOM • FITS IN PALM OF HAND SALE $OOOO 5,000 BTU’s ■ ■ ■ ■ PTC THERMOSTAT While Supply Lasts information and educational resource which provides to the nation’s vocational agriculture departments real-world informa tion and data for instruction in agricultural marketing and busi ness management The four-year old network was created through an agreement between AgriData Resources, Inc., the National FFA Organization, and the National FFA Foundation. In addition to its contest and award programs, the FFA has identified major initiatives for education in international agricul ture. The organization currently operates a number of exchange programs which enable American vocational agriculture students to work or study agriculture abroad and which bring foreign agricul ture students to the United States in association with FFA chapters. FFA proficiency award winners receive an international experi ence tour of agricultural produc tion, processing and marketing facilities. In addition, the six national FFA officers spend two weeks early in their term on an agricultural experience tour of the Orient Specific recommendations Harvesting Accidents turn off the power to your corn picker before servicing it in any way! The gathering mechanisms on com combines do not become plugged as easily as those on corn pickers. Nevertheless, com com bine operators also run the risk of losing hands, arms, or feet if they try to unplug the rolls without first turning the machine off. Most combine injuries occur when clo thing, fingers, hands, or legs are caught in the many exposed belts • Thermostatically Preset • Heats 700 sq. ft. Heats For An Hour were made by the panel for the FFA to consider modifying its image, name, symbols and rituals to more accurately reflect the con temporary curriculum and to embrace a wider range of students. The 404,900-member organiza tion is already conducting an inward look. “The FFA is quite sensitive to the issues of image and public perception,” said Kelli Evans, 21-year-old national FFA president from Hayes Center, Nebr. “That is why the student leadership of our state associa tions has encouraged debate of these issues in our conferences and at our national convention.” Evans indicated that some action < may be forthcoming soon. “Sever al months ago, our Board of Directors received the report of a committee which examined our constitution and bylaws for the past two years,” she said. “As a result, the delegates to the national FFA convention this November will consider a number of pro posed amendments that affect our image and the terminology asso ciated with the educational pro gram. We are ready for change and we are proceeding appropriately.” and gears. These accidents usually result in bums and severe cuts although amputations also occur. As with the compicker, shut your combine completely off to avoid injury whenever you leave the operator’s platform to make adjustments. If some tasks must be carried out with the machine run ning, wear clothing that is com fortable but close-fitting. Be espe cially careful to avoid wearing floppy overalls and loose sleeves and cuffs. 3 GREAT PRI • Overheating Prevention System 20,000 BTU’s of HEAT FOR ONLY ‘ST'S ■ $189.00 Supply Lasts Whil VhVl •ORTGLO iOSENE EATER la approx. aq.«.
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