Seeds of farming sown into students' futures
AHS celebrates National FFA Week, Feb. 18-25
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN - Local high school students have learned that the fate of farming in the area may lie in their hands.

Allentown High School's FFA chapter celebrated National FFA Week, Feb. 18-25, with several different activities promoting farming and protecting natural resources.

The National FFA Organization, or FFA, was organized as the Future Farmers of America (also FFA) in 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. In 1988, the official organization name was changed to the National FFA Organization to reflect the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300 careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass management, according to its Web site.

State Sen. Robert Singer and Assemblyman Ronald Dancer were among the local dignitaries at AHS on Feb. 21 showing their support for the FFA program.

On Sunday, Feb. 18, the Allentown FFA officer team placed a wreath on the grave of the first national FFA president, Leslie Applegate, who is buried at Old Tennent Cemetery in the Tennent section of Manalapan, according to FFA adviser Jack Roszel.

On Feb. 22, FFA officers and members attended a state FFA leadership and advocacy day workshop, and on Feb. 24 they went to the equine expo in Harrisburg, Pa.

AHS Principal Christopher Nagy said that each year, AHS sponsors an appreciation and celebration breakfast for FFA week. The organization asks alumni, such as guest speaker Lisa Clark, to participate. The group also invites key state officials who are active in agricultural legislation and municipal and other government authorities that promote agricultural and leadership awareness in the community, he said.

Among those attending this year besides Singer and Dancer were Nancy Trivette, of the state Department of Agriculture; Dean Sharice Richardson, of Rutgers University's Cook College campus in New Brunswick; Allison Keegan, vice president of New Jersey's FFA chapter; and Mayor Stephen Fleischacker and Committeeman Robert Faber, all of whom made comments during a half-hour program to recognize student efforts, the importance of the FFA program, and both the national and local importance of keeping a focus on Mother Nature along with natural resources and the value of farmland.

In his remarks at the breakfast, Nagy noted that FFA once stood for Future Farmers of America, but that today the letters are understood to collectively reflect agricultural leadership, which denotes how agriculture and the organization has changed.

"Given that over 20 percent of jobs in New Jersey are related to agriculture, such as drug companies and agriscience firms, the attention is important to support the awareness and develop the interest and skills to support the industry," he said. "Furthermore, FFA is one of the premier organizations in the high school to promote character education, leadership qualities and skills, and attention to the sciences."

Nagy quoted William Makepeace whose statement depicts what he felt FFA does for the students, the community and the country.

"We sow a thought and reap an act," he said. "We sow an act and reap a habit. We sow a habit and reap a character. We sow a character and reap a destiny."

Nagy continued, "At AHS, the seeds have been planted and the destiny will only be uncovered after the skills learned and honed in high school mature, blossom and are revealed across the country. AHS is making the community, state and country a better place, and these future leaders in the program will be the ones to provide solution for tomorrow's problems."

Fleischacker called the FFA breakfast "an incredible learning experience with the kids." He said it was especially important for people like himself who moved into the community and were previously not familiar with the FFA.

The mayor said young people gain leadership abilities from the program. Fleischacker also noted that Faber had tears in his eyes during part of the presentation.

Faber, a farmer, said he graduated from the FFA program in 1955, and it means a lot to him.

Fleischacker noted that Dancer said he is working on legislation to involve today's children in learning about farming. While there is a lot of talk about agricultural viability in Upper Freehold, Fleischacker said not a lot of young people are going into farming.

"We must educate kids, or we will have lots of open land with 'For Sale' signs," he said.

Fleischacker, an environmental engineer, said he has also volunteered to teach an environmental class for the FFA.