Senate Ag Committee Honors N.Y. Future Farmers of America

Senate Passes Ag Committee Sponsored Resolution Designating Feb. 20-27 FFA Week

ALBANY (February 23, 2010)—In a show of support for agricultural education, the State Senate today passed a resolution sponsored by the Senate Agriculture Committee that designates the week of February 20-27, 2010 as Future Farmers of America (FFA) Week in the State of New York.

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of our economy and the young people involved with FFA are vital to our future,” said Senate Agriculture Chair Darrel J. Aubertine, a past FFA President in Cape Vincent and the only active farmer in the New York State Legislature. “As we work in this committee to promote agriculture and help farmers improve their bottom line to remain in business doing what they love, it’s important we also keep an eye toward the next generation of farmers. The fact is, we need young people to be involved with agriculture and FFA does a tremendous job providing the foundation needed to be a successful farmer.”

The FFA has brought together students, teacher and agribusiness in support of agricultural education since it was founded in 1928, developing a competent and assertive agricultural leadership program that has seen thousands of members learn and grow. The Senate’s decision to dedicate a week to the FFA is a way to make people more aware of how agriculture affects our everyday lives, and how much the sustainability of our future is held in the hands of students like those in the FFA.

“The FFA has provided me with opportunities and experiences that I don’t believe I could find anywhere else,” Kenny Quick, Jr., President of the New York State Future Farmers of America, a senior at Granville High School in Washington County said. “The organization has helped me grow personally, and also made me understand that, through agriculture, I can make a positive difference in my community, state and country. I would like to thank Chairman Aubertine and the Senate Agriculture Committee for their commitment to raising awareness of the importance of agriculture and the New York State Future Farmers of America.”

President Quick’s supervised agricultural experience has been in Dairy Production, which was Sen. Aubertine’s occupation for 35 years before he was elected to the state Legislature. The New York State FFA has chapters throughout the state dedicated to helping young people reach their goals through agricultural education. The FFA has chapters in the Alexandria, Belleville Henderson, Canton, Carthage, Edwards Knox, Gouverneur, Indian River, Potsdam, and South Jefferson Central School Districts in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, which Sen. Aubertine represents.

-30-

www.nysffa.org