Start an Agricultural Education Program in your Community      
To start an FFA chapter, you first begin by establishing an agricultural education program at your school. It’s even possible that a program once existed at your school and now is a prime time for relaunch. Learn more. 

The Three-Component Model      
Through agricultural education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:

• Classroom/Laboratory instruction (contextual learning)
• Supervised Agricultural Experience programs (work-based learning)
• Student leadership organization (National FFA Organization).

 



The following groups work with FFA promoting local program success:

Virginia Department of Education
Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators (VAAE)
Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education
Virginia Young Farmer Educational Association

Agricultural education is a systematic program of instruction available to students desiring to learn about the science, business, technology of plant and animal production and/or about the environmental and natural resources systems. Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. Today, over 32,000 students participate in formal agricultural education instructional programs offered in grades six-adult throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.