As part of FFA week, New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Wengryn will deliver remarks to New Jersey State FFA chapters during FFA Advocacy and Legislative Leadership Day on Thursday, February 20, an event held at The College of New Jersey during FFA Week, which is this week, February 15-22.
Advocacy and Legislative Leadership Day will kick off at 9 a.m. with a career fair, mix and mingle and continental breakfast in the lobby of the Brower Student Center (The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ, 08618), followed by a symposium at 10:30 a.m. where students will hear from Secretary Wengryn, and state legislative and agriculture industry leaders and education officials.
“As a former FFA member, the opportunity to develop leadership and relationship skills with decision makers was an important part of my FFA experience,” Secretary Wengryn said. “That tradition continues with FFA Week and Legislative Leadership Day and helps shape my ability to serve the industry as Secretary.”
The event will also allow FFA representatives from around the state to meet with state legislators and other decision makers.
FFA is a national youth organization that uses food, agriculture and natural resources education to develop students’ potential and their talents. There is a record of nearly 3,500 FFA members in 38 chapters in New Jersey.
Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Education and FFA provide a strong foundation of leadership and career skills for the young people involved and ensure a steady supply of young professionals to meet the growing demands in the science, business, education, and technology of agriculture.
FFA Week in New Jersey is when state residents are encouraged to recognize the importance of the educational organization and the lifelong contributions of its members to agriculture and related fields and to the quality of life here in the Garden State.
On Thursday afternoon, in the lobby of the Brower Student Center, the State FFA Officers will lead a workshop that will define advocacy and identify what role it plays in our society; explore the steps to effective advocacy and apply it to a realistic situation; analyze the different advocate styles; and develop an advocacy plan.
Here is a partial list of other FFA Week events, including one in Salem County:
Wednesday, February 19: Newton High School – Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – The chapter invites school staff to a luncheon to show their appreciation for all the help they receive throughout the year. Each senior officer recognizes one staff person for their support.
Friday, February 21: Salem County Vocational Technical School – Ag Olympics – FFA members end FFA Week in a competition against one another in agriculturally based games.
Saturday February 22: Allentown High School FFA Week Breakfast – FFA members come together in celebration of National FFA Week.
Find out more about New Jersey agriculture education and FFA at nj.gov/agriculture/ag_ed/
