Georgia Young Georgia Young Farmers’ ProgramFarmers’ Program

““An Educational Journey into Georgia An Educational Journey into Georgia Agriculture”Agriculture”

Draft November 9, 2006Draft November 9, 2006

Our Our Background…Background…The Georgia Young Farmer The Georgia Young Farmer

Program is administered by Program is administered by the Department of the Department of Education. Education.

The Georgia Young Farmer The Georgia Young Farmer Association is a component Association is a component of the Georgia Young of the Georgia Young Farmer Program. Farmer Program.

- The GYF Association - The GYF Association is is the Leadership aspect.the Leadership aspect.

- The GYF Program is - The GYF Program is to to provide instruction in provide instruction in

agriculture.agriculture.

“…“…to provide educational, leadership, to provide educational, leadership, and networking opportunities to and networking opportunities to

agriculture education students and agriculture education students and adults interested in agriculture, adults interested in agriculture,

which assist them in achieving their which assist them in achieving their personal goals and creating a more personal goals and creating a more viable and sustainable agriculture viable and sustainable agriculture

industry in Georgia.”industry in Georgia.”

Our Program’s Our Program’s Mission…Mission…

…“…“to provide lifelong learning, to provide lifelong learning, leadership development, and leadership development, and

networking opportunities to our networking opportunities to our members and to increase members and to increase

agricultural awareness among agricultural awareness among all citizens.”all citizens.”

Our Association’s Our Association’s Mission…Mission…

Our History…Our History…Initiated in 1951 — An outgrowth of the Initiated in 1951 — An outgrowth of the Veterans’ Farm Training ProgramVeterans’ Farm Training Program

1951-1971 — Served as an instructional 1951-1971 — Served as an instructional program coordinated by a full-time young program coordinated by a full-time young farmer teachersfarmer teachers

1971 — Georgia Young Farmers Association 1971 — Georgia Young Farmers Association was organized as an extension of the was organized as an extension of the instructional programinstructional program

The purpose of Georgia’s program is for the The purpose of Georgia’s program is for the coordination of state level activities and to coordination of state level activities and to provide leadership activities for young farmer provide leadership activities for young farmer members.members.

Our Our Teachers…Teachers………teach one in-school class.teach one in-school class.

……provide organized and instructional classes for provide organized and instructional classes for members.members.

……offer Leadership Training to all members.offer Leadership Training to all members.

……are available for on-farm instruction.are available for on-farm instruction.

……are the Advisors of the Local Georgia Young Farmer are the Advisors of the Local Georgia Young Farmer Chapter.Chapter.

……will provide individual instruction upon request.will provide individual instruction upon request.

……stay up-to-date with technology that will be helpful to stay up-to-date with technology that will be helpful to GYF members.GYF members.

……provide instruction for special groups, such as our provide instruction for special groups, such as our Young Farmer Spouse Program.Young Farmer Spouse Program.

Our Goals…Our Goals…

To provide instruction to To provide instruction to meet the current needs of meet the current needs of the agricultural industry.the agricultural industry.

To provide instruction to To provide instruction to meet the needs of cutting meet the needs of cutting edge technology in edge technology in agriculture.agriculture.

To provide opportunities for To provide opportunities for farmers and agribusiness to farmers and agribusiness to share the best practices.share the best practices.

Our Goals…Our Goals…To provide opportunities for To provide opportunities for farmers and agribusiness to farmers and agribusiness to participate in group participate in group discussions.discussions.

To provide instruction for skill To provide instruction for skill development to meet the development to meet the needs of the agricultural needs of the agricultural industry.industry.

To provide instruction for the To provide instruction for the application of leadership and application of leadership and personal skill development in personal skill development in the agricultural industry.the agricultural industry.

Our Goals…Our Goals…To provide an opportunity To provide an opportunity for farmers and for farmers and agribusiness to expand the agribusiness to expand the mental capacity of the mental capacity of the agricultural industry.agricultural industry.

To provide instruction to To provide instruction to increase the managerial increase the managerial skills needed to operate an skills needed to operate an agricultural enterprise.agricultural enterprise.

To provide an opportunity To provide an opportunity for individuals to increase for individuals to increase the values for our society.the values for our society.

Our Our Leadership…Leadership…

County Young Farmer County Young Farmer Chapter OfficersChapter Officers

Regional DirectorsRegional Directors

State OfficersState Officers

Outstanding Chapter Outstanding Chapter PresidentPresident

Outstanding Chapter Outstanding Chapter

Outstanding Farm Family Outstanding Farm Family

Spokesperson for AgricultureSpokesperson for Agriculture

Outstanding Young Farmer Outstanding Young Farmer MemberMember

Terrell Weeks Memorial Terrell Weeks Memorial ScholarshipScholarship

Our Awards…Our Awards…

Our Our Opportunities…Opportunities…LeadershipLeadership

Technical Technical

On-farm AssistanceOn-farm Assistance

Networking Networking Opportunities Opportunities

Community ImprovementCommunity Improvement

Our Our Importance…Importance…-Young Farmer Programs are based on community -Young Farmer Programs are based on community

needs.needs.

-In a research study by Lee and Associates, -In a research study by Lee and Associates, Superintendents and Local School Board Superintendents and Local School Board Chairpersons were found to value Young Farmer Chairpersons were found to value Young Farmer Education. Education. Young Farmer Programs are Important to the Young Farmer Programs are Important to the

Community.Community.

1 = Strongly Disagree1 = Strongly Disagree

5 = Strongly Agree5 = Strongly AgreeYoung Farmer Young Farmer

ProgramProgramAdult EducationAdult Education

SuperintendentsSuperintendents 3.543.54 3.843.84

Local School Local School Board ChairsBoard Chairs

4.044.04 4.174.17

Our Our Locations…Locations…GYFA had 3850 GYFA had 3850

members in 2005.members in 2005.

There were also 77 There were also 77 charters in 2005.charters in 2005.

GYFA has claimed the GYFA has claimed the largest membership in largest membership in the nation for over 24 the nation for over 24 years.years.

There are forty-nine There are forty-nine full time YF teachers full time YF teachers in Georgia.in Georgia.

Our Members Our Members are…are…

……not just farmers.not just farmers.

……farmers, part-time farmers, farmers, part-time farmers, producers, processors, salesmen, as producers, processors, salesmen, as well as, doctors, teachers, and well as, doctors, teachers, and community leaders.community leaders.

……anyone who is in support of anyone who is in support of agriculture and agriculture agriculture and agriculture education.education.

……people like YOU!people like YOU!

Our Contacts…Our Contacts…If you are interested in becoming a Georgia If you are interested in becoming a Georgia Young Farmer Member, please contact your Young Farmer Member, please contact your local chapter or regional office.local chapter or regional office.

If you are interested in starting a Georgia If you are interested in starting a Georgia Young Farmer Program in your community, Young Farmer Program in your community, please contact your region office or the state please contact your region office or the state office listed below.office listed below.

Georgia Young Farmer AssociationGeorgia Young Farmer AssociationABAC 34 2802 Moore HighwayABAC 34 2802 Moore Highway

Tifton, GA 31794Tifton, GA 31794229. 386. 3429229. 386. 3429

Fax 229. 386. 3457Fax 229. 386. 3457