Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C-Big Flats) recently served breakfast to visiting students from FFA, formally known as Future Farmers of America, in Albany on their annual advocacy day. He and the students discussed ways to promote and improve agricultural education in schools to show students there are viable careers in farming and other supporting industries.

“I am always impressed by the work and efforts of the students in the FFA program and what they are doing to help promote agriculture. They are incredible problem solvers and their work ethic is exemplary, making them highly desirable employee candidates.This generation of young people will usher in the resurgence of family farming and other agricultural sectors in New York,” said Friend, who sits on the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. “My colleagues and I will be working to ensure there is enough funding to support agricultural education in our classrooms to encourage young people to pursue a career in agriculture.”

The national organization made the change from Future Farmers of America to FFA in the 1980s to better reflect the multiple career paths related to the agricultural sector such as horticulture, food sciences, wildlife management, textiles, mechanics, automotive, engineering, medicine and robotics.