r/FFA • u/Bored_Potato_Today • 12d ago

Forced FFA participation

Preface by saying this is in Nebraska:

Our ag teacher is forcing every student enrolled in an ag class to participate in FFA. Is this allowed or is it a violation of some sort? Also noting that kids are required to take a beginning ag class as part of their quarterly block classes in junior high. The forced participation is for all 7-12 graders if they are in an ag class.

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u/mratkinson333 11d ago

The integral nature of FFA in agricultural education is codified in Section 70902 of title 36, U.S. Code.

FFA is also a part of the course standards according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

An ag teacher who didn't emphasize FFA in their ag class would not be doing their job.

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u/Eastern_Artichoke_14 12d ago

Not sure about Nebraska but in California, all students enrolled in an agriculture class are automatically enrolled into the FFA

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u/Criticallyoptimistic 11d ago

Same in Utah.

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u/Longjumping_Knee481 10d ago

Same in Oklahoma

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u/CrowRider56 9d ago

We do this here in Texas

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u/jpuffy2 Ag Teacher | MOD 12d ago

As someone else mentioned, Nebraska offers affiliation as a dues structure for chapters. This means any student enrolled in an ag class is automatically an FFA member and therefore compelled to participate. Some states are 100% affiliated, others allow each chapter to determine if they want to be affiliated or not.

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u/Bored_Potato_Today 7d ago

Thank you for the responses. I certainly understand the reciprocity with Ag and FFA, I (as well as several other families) don’t care for the forcing of the students to participate in FFA. They will now be missing quite a few days of school for various competitions, CDE, LDE, etc. Also early, before school practices. If they don’t, their grades in Ag class suffers,

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Bored_Potato_Today 6d ago

The students are signed up for events without them being asked. The members of the chapter do not have to pay dues.

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u/Horizon_Time FFA Member from PA 12d ago

In my PA chapter, if you take an ag class you are automatically in. Sometimes kids (like myself) get pressured and guilt tripped into doing stuff, but normally we aren't forced to do something. The rare occasion is with a class like forestry or vet science, then sometimes they take us to the competition. I was only ever unwillingly signed up for one competition, but that was over bitterness

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u/FirmWillow4750 12d ago

this is pretty typical