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National Ag Day was celebrated officially on March 19, but you are welcome to continue to celebrate throughout the month. This year's theme was "Growing a Climate for Tomorrow" and is sponsored by the Agriculture Council of America (ACA).
The ACA believes that every American should:
- Understand how food and fiber products are produced.
- Appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.
- Value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy.
- Acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food, and fiber industry.
There are some great in-person and virtual events that are sponsored each year on National Ag Day. To find out more about how your students can get involved and celebrate National Ag Day you are welcome to check out the website link available. Be sure to include #AgDay24 in any posts on social media to help spread the importance of this event.
Source: Agriculture Council of America, Accessed on 3/21/24.
 The Agricultural Education End of Year Report supplies data that can be used to plan for Ag Ed in the future. Last year we had an outstanding submission rate of 96%! In a bid to have all agricultural education teachers submit their data this year, OSPI will once again be utilizing an Alchemer's survey format for 2024. The Ag Ed End of Year Report will be sent out via email on May 1, 2024 to all Ag Teachers and CTE Directors across the state and will remain open only until July 1, 2024. Please see the link for a preview of the questions that will be included on this year's report. There are a few new questions that are included on the 2024 report, so you are encouraged to preview the questions before starting.
Sammi Jo Sims graduated from College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) program in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in agricultural education. She is an agricultural science instructor and FFA advisor at Ellensburg High School. Sammi Jo was recognized as the 2023 ACTE New Teacher of the Year, a national-level accolade, showcasing her dedication and excellence in the field of education. Congratulations Sammi Jo on being selected as the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Early Career Achievement Award recipient!
Source: University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Facebook page, Accessed on 3/20/24
The Washington Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) would like to invite all agricultural education teachers to "Come Together" while attending the Annual WAAE Summer Conference on June 23-27, 2024 in Shelton, Washington at the Little Creek Resort and Casino.
OSPI would also like to encourage all agricultural education teachers to participate in this professional development opportunity. The conference is packed with workshops presented by your peers, which lends a sense of collaboration to the event. Conference planners are still looking for additional workshop presentations, so if you are interested check out the website for more information on how to sign up. There are tours of agricultural based industries and a vendor show to help gain resources for the next school year. WAAE summer conference is a time to gather as a collective group of teachers to help answer questions, provide mentorship, take part in recreation, support teachers through an annual live/silent auction, and celebrate the accomplishments of our Ag teachers in the field. This conference also helps prepare agricultural education teachers for the upcoming school year.
On behalf of the entire WAAE executive team, we would like to encourage everyone to check out the links included and register to attend the conference at your earliest opportunity. There is even a letter you can give to your administration in support of attending the WAAE summer conference on behalf of WAAE and OSPI, and a schedule of events to help with your planning needs. Let's all "Come Together" and make this year's WAAE summer conference one to remember!
 The Washington Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) Member Experience Committee came up with the brilliant idea at last year's summer conference of offering a monthly Owl Hour to provide opportunities to learn and grow as Ag teachers. Each month, an Ag teacher will host an hour–long professional development event on different topics for teachers.
WAAE President, Lori Sanderson, hosted the first Owl Hour back in December on resources and benefits of NAAE/WAAE membership as well as a round table on what we should offer our members. If you missed any edition of Owl Hour, a recording is available on the WAAE website. To assist teachers as they continue to move through the year, WAAE has some important dates to remind everyone about as well.
April 1 – WAAE Award Applications Due to Chris Carlson
(please use his new email address to submit at waaeccarlson@gmail.com)
April 22 – Owl Hour - Banquet and State FFA Convention Planning
As another tool to stay connected to WAAE, we encourage you to start following them on Instagram @wa–ageducators. The WAAE website also includes resources for new teachers, information on how to join WAAE, district calendar to plan events, professional development opportunities, and provides details on all our WAAE traditions that help build a sense of community. We encourage you to check out the WAAE website to spark your interest and definitely bookmark the website in your favorites to access future WAAE conference information.
STIHL Northwest and Washington State University are pleased to offer you a training at the STIHL NW headquarters in Centralia, WA. Teachers who provide instruction in forestry, outdoor education, outdoor power, landscaping, agricultural mechanics, and anyone who works with equipment that has the STIHL logo are encouraged to attend.
This will include an online module of training prior to the event (The Bronze training). Once you complete the online training “at home” you will be awarded the certificate of completion that warrants your training in Centralia on the evening of June 21 and all-day June 22. The cost is $320.
Some meals and light faire will be provided and clock hours will be offered. This opportunity is limited to only 12 participants! It is suggested that participants consider housing at the Fairfield Inn and Suites at Grand Mound (2 miles from STIHL NW).
J.D. Fernstrom, STIHL Technical Service manager, is the lead instructor. I have worked with J.D. before in Okanogan county. He is super knowledgeable and great to work with. This opportunity coincides with the Washington Association of Agricultural Educators (WAAE) conference in Shelton, so it's a great opportunity to participate in this pre-conference training. J.B. Baser, the coordinator for this training completed the Bronze training a few years ago and then traveled to Illinois to complete the Silver training. He used the information provided by these trainings constantly with students when teaching outdoor power.
Registration closes on April 15. For more information or to register for this event please contact J.D. Baser at jbaser@wsu.edu
WSU staff are eager to host three CASE Institutes this summer on the WSU Pullman campus. For specific information about how you can take part in this professional development opportunity please check out the flyers. You can also contact Anna Warner anna.warner@wsu.edu and JD Baser jbaser@wsu.edu if you have any questions.
- Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR)
- July 8-12 in person, July 15-16 virtual
- Register by 2/29 to save $200
- Registration deadline: April 15
- Register at : www.case4learning.org
- Environmental Science Issues (ESI)
- July 8-12 in person
- Register by 2/29 to save $200
- Registration deadline: April 15
- Register at : www.case4learning.org
- Small Gas Engines (SGE) BriefCASE
- July 15-17, 2024
- Register Deadline: May 1
- Cost is $825
- Housing block available at Hilltop in Pullman, WA
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Each year, Washington state has openings for agricultural education teaching positions at various locations across the state. As openings for agricultural education teachers are made available this school year, please contact J.D. Baser, Associate Professor at Washington State University at jbaser@wsu.edu, to provide details on the posting. All openings submitted will be made available for anyone to access using the provided link. |
The Washington State FFA officers and staff are really excited to be back in Pullman for the 94th Annual Washington State FFA Convention on May 9-11. As a lead into the State FFA Convention experience, our state officers continue to release fun posts on the Washington FFA Association Instagram account. We encourage you and your students to check them out!
As we prepare for state convention keep a look out for updates and emails from Washington FFA state staff. Any updates will be reflected on the State FFA Convention link on the Washington FFA Association website. We have also included the link to register for this event using Judging Card and a draft state convention schedule released by Lisa Baser, Programs Director for Washington FFA. Many thanks to WSU and CAHNRS for their continued support!
If you have any questions please let us know. We will continue to post additional information as it becomes available.
As FFA advisors your spring fills up quickly with events you and your students host, CDE/LDE practices and contests and maintaining facilities and managing SAE projects right alongside your students. With all these responsibilities it can be difficult to also keep on your radar the April FFA award and application deadline.
To assist we have included a list of FFA applications that are Due on April 1. This includes: 100% Membership, Citizenship Award, Delegate Issue Submission, Honorary American Degrees, Honorary State Degrees, State Officer Nominating Committee, and National Convention Delegate. Simply have your students visit the Washington FFA Association website and click on the Jot Form available to complete the application.
If you have any questions or need assistance in submitting an application please contact Andy Zahl at andy@washingtonffa.org. Good luck to all your FFA members this spring as they complete their April 1 applications!
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The National Chapter Award (NCA) Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards (NQCS) and a Program of Activities (POA) that emphasize growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.
In Washington State, all National Chapter Award applications are Due on April 15. Applications are submitted electronically via ffa.org or AET. There are two main parts to the application including Form I and Form II. Form I provides the opportunity to upload 15 activities that tie into one of the main quality standards and complete a summary of the national quality standards for your FFA chapter. All FFA Chapter's that fill out Form I can be recognized with a State Superior Chapter Award on stage at state convention.
Form II provides an opportunity to select nine of the activities from Form I to describe in detail their goals, plan of action, outcome and impact the activity had on the students, chapter, and community. Chapters that complete Form I and II and make a presentation at state convention will be eligible for a National Chapter Award and a State Premier Chapter Award for an innovative FFA chapter activity.
National Chapter Award Applications will be reviewed on Saturday, April 27 at Eastmont High School. If you are interested in helping with the review or have questions about the National Chapter Award application, please contact Tamara Whitcomb for more information. Registration will be made available soon. Good luck to your students as they complete the National Chapter Award applications this spring!
For more information on NCA you are welcome to check out the National FFA Organization website using the link provided.
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Congratulations to all our Washington State FFA Award Winners and Finalists! We are excited to celebrate all their accomplishments at the 94th Annual Washington State FFA Convention in Pullman, WA.
Each year, the FFA Foundation sponsors monetary awards to FFA proficiency award winners and district and state star winners. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this opportunity by filling out award applications each year. If you or your student has any questions about how they receive their monetary award please contact Jesse Taylor, our FFA Foundation Executive Director at jesse@washingtonffa.org
 CASE & FFA Chapter Capital Equipment Grants are Open! The Washington State legislature granted the Washington FFA Foundation a $5 Million capital equipment allocation to distribute grants to FFA Chapters and schools offering CASE curriculum class offerings for the 2023–25 Budget Cycle.
By popular demand, some portions of the application were amended. You can now scroll forward and back through the entire application without filling out all portions first. Also, there is a formal signature page for all FFA chapters to use.
Priority scoring will go to schools who did not receive a grant in the fall cycle. If you were awarded an FFA Chapter grant in the Fall 2023 cycle, you can still apply this time but your application will be scored after successful applications that were not awarded a grant in the Fall. This is the same for CASE capital equipment grants. Priority will go to teachers who did not receive a grant in 2023.
The deadline to submit a grant application is April 1. The maximum amount that can be awarded per grant is $40,000. Applications will be reviewed and awarded by the FFA Foundation Board of Directors and Staff. The two applications can be found using the links provided. An important note is that the FFA Chapter Grant is only available for chartered FFA chapters in good standing with Washington FFA. It is not available to schools that have a leadership equivalency. If you have any questions please contact Jesse Taylor at jesse@washingtonffa.org
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2024 Next Gen Food Products and Processing Application Deadline Extended
Do you have students interested in the foods pathway? The Next Gen Food Products and Processing conference has been set for June 25-29 in Minneapolis, Minn. Next Gen allows students to explore pathways through informational sessions, panels and tours. Visit here for more information and to apply. The application deadline is Tuesday, April 9, at 11:59 pm EDT. Need financial assistance for traveling to the conference? Click here for more information.
Career and Leadership Development Events
Teachers using the Texas A&M “Poultry Science Manual for National FFA Career Development Events, 7th Edition” as a resource should download and print the manual’s updated Table of Contents. This updated version includes the current rotations for the exam topics and can be found by selecting "Instructional Materials" in the Poultry Evaluation Event Preparation column on the CDE/LDE webpage. The updated Table of Contents matches the current Poultry Evaluation CDE Handbook.
Engaging Students in the Agriscience Research Process
Need ideas on how to engage your students in the research process? Check out this lesson plan series to better engage your students through research and development. This lesson series aims to guide students through the agriscience research process. Skills learned through this process align with the National FFA Agriscience Fair award area.
Fifth-Eighth-Grade FFA Advisor Needs Assessment Coming in March This month, all fifth-eighth-grade FFA advisors and agriculture teachers in the FFA membership roster will receive a survey asking about their current needs. Questions will range from learning more about their fifth-eighth-grade agriculture program (how it operates, student engagement, general support, barriers, and challenges) to the resources they use and are looking for. Reminders will be sent throughout March to ensure they can respond if they want to. There is an optional random drawing for $50 gift cards upon survey completion. Email questions to evaluation@FFA.org.
2024 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit Set
Do you know current or former American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students aged 18-24 interested in agriculture? The 2024 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit, set for July 15-23 in Fayetteville, Ark., is an opportunity for them to foster connections, develop key skills and build connections with industry experts. Applications are open until Monday, April 1, and can be accessed here. Applicants who are accepted receive travel and lodging scholarships. Click here for more information.
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NAAE maintains an extensive awards program to recognize the accomplishments of our many talented and dedicated members. We have awards for agricultural educators in every stage of their careers, from scholarships to lifetime achievement. We also manage grant programs for organizations who want to help support agricultural education and agricultural educators.
To find out more about the awards and professional development opportunities available through NAAE check out the 2024 award application list and visit the website for more information.
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The Zoetis Industry Support Program is the long-standing local FFA chapter support program offered by Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) that sends grant money to chapters across the US based on sales of Zoetis products by local veterinarians, animal health product distributors, and dealers.
The program is open for enrollment now at: https://programdetails.zoetisus.com/FFA/asp/FFA_ContributionForm.asp. Local ag teachers and FFA members should connect with their local veterinarian(s), animal health product distributors, and dealers and share program information with them before asking them to sign up. Veterinarians need a chapter’s FFA ID number to complete sign up.
The program does not cost the local veterinarian, animal health product distributor, or dealer anything. All they have to do is sign up and their normal sales of Zoetis products are tracked and Zoetis at the corporate level writes a check to the FFA chapter(s) the enrollee identified to support. One veterinarian, animal health product distributor, or dealer can support up to five chapters.
We’d love to program participation numbers grow in your state. Advisors are encouraged to take pictures of their students interacting with their local veterinarian and/or animal health product dealer and share these pictures with Zoetis at: uslivestockcommunications@zoetis.com.
Sign up is open now through May 3, 2024.
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