(KLZA) -- The Humboldt – Table Rock- Steinauer School Board has discussed adding agricultural classes and an FFA program to the school offerings for several months.  Last Tuesday State Director of Agriculture Education Matt Kreifels with the Nebraska Department of Education and two Nebraska State FFA Chapter Officers presented information to students and patrons about FFA and agriculture education.

IIn the afternoon all HTRS Middle and High School students attended an assembly to learn more about the program.  Survey’s filled out to judge interest in an ag program had 18 middle school students and 26 students in grades 9 – 12 indicate a high interest.  Not all the survey’s had been counted by the evening meeting for parents and patrons.  Students could also indicate if they were somewhat interested or had no interest at all.

Several HTRS School Board members, some parents and other patrons along with a few students attended the evening assembly. Most seemed to be in favor of starting such a program.  A few questions were raised concerning if students would often have to choose between ag course offerings and other classes offered.  

Matt Kreifels discussed some of the advantages ag education and FFA programs offer to students including students seeing a future for themselves in an industry most have grown up around.  The program also helps show students some of the opportunities for them to come back to once they go to college. 

Kreifels pointed out that one in three jobs in Nebraska are related to agriculture.  Currently there are 150 Nebraska school districts offering an FFA program which matches the highest number ever offered.  With four more programs already confirmed to come on line next year a new record will be set.  There are currently 7,000 FFA members in Nebraska.

Any Nebraska school district can offer Ag education courses and have an FFA chapter if they meet some minimum requirements. The biggest obstacle can having a certified and endorsed ag education teacher.  Each school district must have it’s own teacher, in order to have it’s own FFA chapter.  One teacher can not sponsor two chapter.  

Members pay annual dues and pay for trips and competitions but fund-raisers are done to help with some of the expenses. It was also noted that there is more than $2.1 million in scholarships available through FFA.  

HTRS Board member Mike Bredemeier was an FFA member at Southeast Consolidated and feels this would be a good program for the HTRS District to offer students.  He said the program is a good one for kids that grow up on the farm or that live in town.   

Bredemeier said he feels like the program could be up and going for the 2014-15 school year if the Board decided in April to move forward.

Superintendent Clint Kimbrough listed several options ranging from sharing a teacher with a neighboring district to having a full-fledged program at HTRS.  Kimbrough estimated the start-up costs including hiring a teacher could be $100,000 or more.

If you have questions or comments on the addition of an agriculture and FFA program at HTRS you are encouraged to contact the school administration or Board members.