A2B-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 14,1990 Farm Forum (Continued from Pag* AtO) Editor, As President of the Lancaster County Vocational Agriculture Teacher Association I am writing in regard to the letters to the editor over the last two weeks concern ing the cuts to the FFA proposed by Governor Casey. I wholeheartedly agree with Rep. Barley that Governor Casey needs to do more than lip service for the agriculture industry in PA. It was very interesting to see Gov ernor Casey’s picture in the Lan caster Fanning as he visited Lan caster for the day. Does Governor Casey realize by cutting the funds to the FFA he is eliminating opportunities to thousands of FFA and agriculture students across the state? Here in Lancaster County alone we have over 500 FFA members involved in high school agriculture education. I had my students write a letter to the Governor and other politi cians in Harrisburg as a classroom activity. I was touched by how upset our students were in writing these letters. They were concerned about not only their future but the future of agriculture. They could not understand how the Governor of a state whose major industry is agriculture, could cut funding to agriculture so drastically. Even though they are not of voting age I am sure they are bringing home the message Governor Casey has sent out about his commitment to agriculture to their parents. The agriculture teachers of Lan caster County and PA are also concerned about our future as agriculture educators in this state. In reviewing Ron Fredrick’s letter to the editor I was shocked to see how little support is given to agri culture education on the state level as compared to our neighboring states. We as teachers are being asked to not only teach but pick up the duties previously taken care of by state staff. The FFA is not just a group of agriculture students. Its purpose is to prepare students for the voca tion of agriculture. We strongly urge Governor Casey to take a close look at the foundation of the state of PA and provide funding to support agriculture. ' Deb Seibert Manheim Central High School Agricultural Department Editor: I have read with interest during the past several weeks letters which you have received concern ing Governor Casey’s elimination of $33,000 from the 1990-91 bud get to help fund the Pennsylvania FFA. I have been an agricultural edu cation teacher in the secondary school system in western Pennsyl vania for the past 25 years. I have always .been encouraged by the support that agricultural business es, legislatures, and interested community-minded citizens have given to the support of our agricul tural education curriculum and the FFA organization. I feel pride in being able to deliver educational information to the Common wealth’s #1 industry. Agriculture has always been vital to the Com monwealth’s economy. I am concerned about the gradual erosion that is taking place in the Commonwealth for our agricultural education funding in the secondary programs. The staff employed by the Vocational Education Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Edu cation for Agricultural Education is declining rapidly. I am greatly concerned that in die next decade or two a large percentage of our people will be agricultural illiter ate since each generation of young people is being removed from the rural farm setting which their an cestors had enjoyed. We must ini tiate a program so that more indi viduals will have full-time respon sibilities in delivering agricultural education information at the state, regional, and local levels. Too many individuals are now em ployed in positions that do not have the understanding of the agricultural industry. I have taught many young peo ple who have acquired their lead ership abilities through the activi ties of the FFA. These students re- Mower ceive hands-on experiences and have an opportunity to apply their training in competitive events through the FFA. The $33,000 and much more should be reinstated in the Governor’s budget immediate ly! This money is wisely used as students participate in local, re gional, state, and national con tests. As a secondary school teacher, I can see a bright future for our young people who are seeking new innovative careers. The agri cultural industry supplies numer ous opportunities for these new careers. Young people need to have the opportunity to be inform ed about these new opportunities which will allow the agricultural industry in Pennsylvania to get even better. I am an educator who is interested in making that com mitment to the young people of our Commonwealth by giving them the information needed to make wise decisions and the right choices in preparing for their life’s career. Is our Governor and the Pennsylvania Department of Edu DEMONSTRATION DAYS * Full Line of Kubota Tractors and Equipment TI6OOHST G2OOO with Grass Catcher F 2400 with Grass Catcher Hours... Monday - Friday 7:30 - 5:00 Saturday 8:00 - 1:00 LEBANON Rt #7, BOX 405, UtMßon, PA 17042 ffi. 410, i Mil wait at 9ctti*ff#f»t©wn 717-949-2000 See Our Used Equipment Ad On Page C-31. SKUBOTH YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR Friday, April 20th 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Saturday, April 21st 9:00 am to 3:00 pm New Walk Behind Mowers New Diesel Lawn Tractors New 4 wheel STEERING Garden Tractors New “B” Series w/Bi-Speed Steering New “F” Series w/Front Mowers and Grass Catchers w/Hydraulic Dump New L-5450 (everclutch) New Portable Generators New “Mini” Excavator Full Line of Landscaping Attachments Ag Tech Preseeder, Grading Boxes Stone Rakes, Grading Blades, Rototilles Mowers, Brush Cutters. Pulverizers Loaders, Backhoes, Post Hole Diggers Plows, Discs, Cultivators, 3 Pt. Cany Alls 10% Discount on all Tractor Parts and Oil (At Dealership) Light Refreshments (At Demo Site) Lebanon a V< w \<v ‘Demonstration Rt 419 \ »slte Keller Bros. | TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT | Serving Central PA since 1921 cation willing to make the neces sary decisions by expanding the agricultural education programs in our secondary schools by provid ing increased funding and addi tional full-time state staff person nel? Doyle E. Paul Agricultural Education Instructor Berlin Brothersvalley School District Somerset County Editor: In regard to the open letter to the Governor, one can hardly blame the Governor for trying to save money except this cut, when examined, closely is ounce sound and pound foolish. The taxpayer is getting more for his money in this expenditure than many other budget items. It is hard to imagine the impact of just what the FFA Foundation does for young folks of the rural communities of the Commonwealth. What else is new? In 1941 the school board in the school where my father taught Vo-Ag said agri culture is no longer important in the community so why not drop FEATURING Myerstown N " W —j-E Ln ' KUB 0 I B 2 Location* the department from the curricu lum. That very day the announce ment was made a Mr. Martin and Mr. Fctterolf from the State Department came to our home to help correct this mistake. With their help the department stayed open. There has been a lot of water over the dam since then, but it is my opinion the time to stand up and be counted is NOW. Peo ple from many walks of life are led to believe this is the trend so why fight it Having taught Vo-Ag for over 30 years, we have been told to get industry involved in the educa tional process. We, as a group of teachers, have worked hard at doing just this. It is my wish to get Governor Casey to do the same with the var ious departments in the Pennsyl vania government I realize each department has its own personnel and each department has their spe cific little task to accomplish. Just think what might happen IF we could get the Departments of Edu (Turn to Pago A 29) - "f?; L 4150 Schaefferstown Sales Parts Service LANCASTER 1950 Froltwitl# Plkt, Unca«*r, PA 17601 At Rout# 30 A Fraftvltl# Plk# 717-569*2500 81550 82150 # J « L2BSOGST
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