Governor Edward Rendell proclaimed this week as FFA Week while also designating February 25 as Teach Agriculture Day. Given that Pennsylvania's agriculture industry amounts to $5.8 billion, it plays an important role in the state.
"It is imperative that we have a pipeline of talent ready to enter the agriculture workforce," Rendell said.
The FFA has almost 8,000 members in Pennsylvania, who are part of the 148 chapters of the organization in the state. The goal of the organization is to educate younger people regarding agriculture.
According to its national website, the FFA had more than 500,000 members in 2008. In all, there are 7,429 chapters in all 50 states, while the organization is also represented in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The FFA, which was originally known as the Future Farmers of America, was founded in 1928. The group changed its name to the National FFA Organization in 1998.
