FFCS is one of 91 New York schools set to receive grant money through New York State’s Agricultural Education Incentive Grants Program.
The program, which is funded through the state budget, provides assistance to local school-based agricultural education programs to support the next generation of New York’s agricultural workforce, a news release said.
“We are forever thankful for the incentive grant money to support our growing program,” FFCS agriculture teacher Sheri Boardman said.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball made the announcement during National FFA Week, which is celebrated from Feb. 22-29 and honors the positive impact that FFA and agricultural education programs have on students across New York and the nation.
“There are a tremendous number of agricultural career paths available to our young people today – from animal and vet science, to food science, conservation, biotechnology, agribusiness, and much more. The Agricultural Education Incentive Grants Program helps our agricultural education program leaders continue their important work of highlighting all of these diverse options, inspiring students to choose agriculture and ensuring the future of agriculture in New York State.”
The Agricultural Education Incentive Grants Program promotes agricultural education in public school districts across New York State through classroom instruction, extracurricular programs, and work-based learning. Currently, there are 212 schools offering agricultural education programs to over 10,000 students across New York State.
The Agricultural Education Incentive Grants Program is administered by Cornell University’s Agriculture Education and Outreach Program and the New York State FFA Association, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Farm Bureau, and the New York State Education Department.