MOSCOW, Idaho—University of Idaho agricultural education faculty expect a record turnout of more than 900 FFA members on the Moscow campus Tuesday through Friday, June 2-5, for state career development events.
Jim Connors, UI Agricultural and Extension Education Department head, said the record turnout reflects a recent change in Idaho school funding to increase support for agricultural education.
This number of registrations for this year’s statewide gathering total 960, an increase from 2014’s 705 attendees. The career development events are the culmination of the academic year for FFA students as they apply what they learned about a variety of topics in a competitive setting.
“It’s the big ending of the year for agricultural education and FFA,” Connors said. The winners will be announced Friday morning during a concluding ceremony at the Pitman Activity Center. Winners are eligible to go on to national competition in October at Louisville, Kentucky.
Interest in high school agricultural education programs is growing, Connors said. The UI agricultural and extension education program is one of the largest in the Northwest.
“We have a lot of openings for teachers because we are adding new programs and existing programs are continuing to grow,” Connors said. “Ag programs are doing well throughout the state.”
UI College of Agricultural and Life Sciences faculty, staff and alumni help put on the events, which range fromlivestock evaluation and agricultural mechanics to marketing plans and veterinary science career development events. FFA alumni and Washington State University faculty help, too.
The UI College of Natural Resources also sponsors events focusing on forestry, environment and natural resources.
In addition to the 13 subject areas, FFA members will tour campus laboratories, greenhouses and the Student Recreation Center, among other locations.