6 minute read
Inspiring Our Youth
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“With many producers set to retire in the next decade, we are
seeing a generational transfer as younger people take over farm ownership. For our industry to remain strong, we must invest in our young people to ensure we have a new crop of energetic, outstanding leaders to carry our profession forward.”
Colin Mellon, Director, Farm Credit West
Each year, through youth agriculture programs like 4-H and FFA, thousands of junior high and high school students purchase, raise and prepare an animal for auction at local fairs and farm shows. And each year, Farm Credit West supports these students by purchasing their animals for top dollar, directing proceeds to the students.
In 2019, the Association spent $135,000 supporting students at junior livestock auctions around California and Arizona. Branch managers often spend time interviewing students prior to auctions to assess their financial savvy. Do they know all their figures? Can they assess the cost to purchase and raise their animal, and what will it take to break even? And perhaps most importantly, what do they plan to do with the money they make at auction?
“Most of them say they’re saving for college,” said Jennifer Davila, Senior Credit Support specialist at Imperial who has been involved with her branch’s support of junior livestock auctions since 2004. “I think it’s a great way to get them invested in their own education—they learn a lot of responsibility through the process. It’s not just a pet dog; they have to keep track of expenses, know how much feed costs, and make sure the animal is in optimal health by the time it gets to the farm show.” Beyond bidding on students’ animals, volunteers at several FCW branches, including Imperial and Woodland, actually facilitate purchases made at their local auctions: invoicing buyers, collecting payment from processors and distributing the difference to the students. For the last few years, Davila has also managed “barn sales” for animals which didn’t meet the auction criteria, fronting purchase money and later collecting from buyers on behalf of the students. Last year, the Imperial branch managed 25 individual barn sales, mostly rabbits, calves and pigs, and fronted nearly $9,000 in sales.
These funds go directly into the hands of students, who gain important skills through their animal raising projects. Responsibility, leadership, public speaking, and long-term commitment are all assessed during the process, which can take months and often occurs repeatedly. These projects also tend to pique young people’s interest in agriculture and potentially propel them toward careers in the industry.
“FFA and 4-H animal-raising projects are critical programs in an era when agriculture is withstanding mounting pressures and global changes,” said Farm Credit West President and CEO Mark Littlefield. “We are proud to support youth through these programs, and take an active role in cultivating young people who will take over the reins of our industry in the future.”
Farm Credit West contributed more than $135,000 to junior livestock auctions in 2019 and facilitated multiple events through staff volunteer hours.
Tulare staff volunteer at AgVentures! Day, engaging more than 1,700 students with agriculture in a single day.
Engaging Children in Tulare and Santa Barbara Counties with Agriculture
Careers in agriculture begin with fostering interest at a young age. For this reason, Farm Credit West is active with programs in our community that target young children and introduce them to agriculture. Annually, our Tulare County branch staff volunteers with AgVentures! Learning Center & Ag Museum at the International Agri-Center. This program provides opportunity for over 1,700 students in the Tulare and Visalia School systems to engage in interactive learning experiences about agriculture. Staff on California’s Central Coast volunteer annually at Farm Supply’s Quiz Jam at the Santa Barbara County Fair. This exciting event engages students with several agriculture-related challenges.
Proud sponsors of the FFA in Arizona and California No agriculture education is complete without the formal instruction offered through programs such as the FFA and 4-H. Farm Credit West is an active supporter of both these programs, providing funding and volunteer hours at the local and state levels. In Santa Maria, staff take an active role serving as project judges. In Arizona, Farm Credit West is a proud sponsor of the Arizona State FFA Foundation, and in 2019, staff served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Farm Credit West Safford and Tempe staff attend the Arizona State FFA Foundation Blue and Gold Gala. Farm Credit West is a long-time supporter of the program, with one of our staff members serving on the Foundation’s board of directors last year.
Students gather around Elenor Harlan, Credit Analyst, Rocklin, to participate in an agriculture trivia game at Farm Connection Day in Yolo County.
Supporting 4-H Programs
In Yolo County, 4-H students welcomed 2,500 public, private, and home-schooled students to “Farm Connection Day” at the county fair grounds as they do each year. During this event, visitors toured several educational displays, presentations and hands-on activities featuring agriculture, livestock and arts and crafts. 4-H students provided demonstrations and showcased their projects. Farm Credit West provided monetary support and staff volunteers at this event.
Each month, SeeAg provides more than 1,000 students the opportunity to learn about life on a farm in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Supporting Agricultural Education of Young Children
Even the youngest of children benefit from early exposure to agriculture. On California’s Central Coast, Farm Credit West supports the YMCA garden, providing preschoolers hands-on learning opportunities for how vegetables are grown. In Paso Robles, Farm Credit West sponsors the West Coast Junior Rodeo where young children show off their horseback riding skills.
Bringing Students to the Farm
In Ventura County, Farm Credit West is an active supporter in SeeAg, a student agricultural education program reaching more than 1,000 students per month. This organization provides a unique opportunity to connect children who may never have been exposed to agriculture previously with life on a farm. This program recently expanded to Santa Barbara County, connecting students with local farmers.
Young children are exposed to the basics of agriculture at the YMCA Preschool Garden in Santa Maria.
Farm Credit West is a proud sponsor of the new greenhouse at Woodland High School in Northern California.
Investing in High School Agriculture Education
As those who participated in a high school agriculture course can attest, these programs are transformative for young people. Farm Credit West understands that, and regularly provides monetary contributions to high school facilities that allow for improved student engagement. In northern California, Farm Credit West donated funds for the construction of a new greenhouse at Woodland High School. In the Central Valley, our Association annually donates to the Hanford Foundation for Vocational Agriculture (VoAg), having sponsored the construction of the swine barn at the Hanford School Farm. Farm Credit West also donates annually to Ag in the Classroom, a statewide program bringing agriculture coursework into schools throughout California.
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