Atascocita FFA Chapter attends Annual Agricultural Education and Texas FFA Day at the Texas State Capitol

(Humble) – Atascocita FFA Chapter attended the fourth annual Agricultural Education and Texas FFA Day at the Capitol hosted by the Texas FFA Association and the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas (VATAT). The Agricultural Education and Texas FFA Day at the Capitol was held February 26, 2013, in Austin, Texas.

Atascocita FFA  was one of more than 50 chapters that comprised more than 500 FFA members and advisors across Texas who participated in this event in order to learn more about the legislative process, specifically addressing agriculture and agricultural education through workshops and presentations conducted by key public leaders in Texas.

We want young people to grow up to be engaged citizens who have a voice in the legislation process, because they understand it, said Texas FFA Executive Director Tom Maynard.

Resolutions regarding the Texas FFA were read in the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. In addition, members participated in workshops facilitated by Representatives Larry Gonzales and Kyle Kacal. The representatives described the roles of legislators, executive offices and lobbyists, as well as expressed the need for bright, young people in public service.

“Day at the Capitol is a great way for our state leaders to see the true impact of agricultural education and the FFA. It also affords our members the opportunity to see first-hand the legislative process, and how they can affect change in their own communities,” explained Texas FFA Leadership Development Coordinator Austin Large.

The Texas FFA is one of the nation’s largest state FFA Associations with more than 94,000 members and more than 1,000 FFA chapters. FFA gives students the opportunity to apply practical classroom knowledge to real world experiences through local, state and national competitions. For more information about the Texas FFA Association, visit www.texasffa.org.

In Texas, there are an estimated 1,700 agricultural science and technology teachers impacting approximately 140,000 students enrolled in agricultural education classes at the secondary level. The Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas is headquartered in Austin and aims to improve agriculture by teaching. For more information about the VATAT, visit www.vatat.org.