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Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastics
Most of you by now have received your free
copy of the 2nd edition of this book. Copies of the publication
were dropped shipped directly to the  state
association annual meeting contact persons. We regret that the
books did not arrive in time for all of the summer meetings;
but, we’re sure the summer meeting contact persons found
creative ways to get the books distributed to you. If you have
not received your copy, please contact your state leaders.
We also expect to provide you with a CD-ROM of
lesson plans to accompany the book. We’ll get this to you as
soon as it is available.
These materials are provide courtesy of Dr.
Dennis Avery and the Hudson Institute’s Center for
Global Food Issues. You may send a note of thanks to them at P.
O. Box 202, Churchville, VA 24421.
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 USDA
Secondary Ag Ed
Challenge Grants Program
On page three of this newsletter, you will
find a list of the grants that were awarded by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture for the FY 2000 Secondary Ag Ed
Challenge Grants Program. Congratulations to these 24 grant
recipients.
At the time of this writing, it is fairly
apparent (but not certain) that the funding level for this grant
program in FY 2001 will be $800,000. This is a $300,000 increase
over previous funding levels. Thank you to all who helped to
encourage the U.S. Congress to increase the funding level. Our
efforts are paying great dividends!
Please visit the NAAE web site at www.naae.org
to get the latest information on the grant program. We
anticipate the FY 2001 Request for Proposals will be available
mid-December 2000 with a proposal deadline date in March 2001.
We are hopeful (but we cannot guarantee) that both the secondary
and 2-year postsecondary levels of instruction will be eligible
for funding under this program in FY 2001.
If you want to contact USDA directly regarding
this program, the contact person is Gregory Smith. You
may call him at (202) 720-2067 or send e-mail to him at GSMITH@intranet.reeusda.gov.
Mr. Smith replaced Dr. Kevin Bacon as the program manager.
Dr. Bacon has rejoined the agricultural
economics faculty at Central Missouri State University. We
appreciate the good work he did on our behalf in getting this
program off the ground. NAAE nominated him for the Honorary
American FFA Degree, which he received at this year’s National
FFA Convention in Louisville.
Mr. Smith presented a grant writing workshop
at the 2000 National FFA Convention and he will be with us in
San Diego for the NAAE convention. If you are interested in
applying for competitive grants, Gregory Smith is a person you’ll
want to get to know! |
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Teacher
Spotlight
Howard Heavner has worked tirelessly to rebuild
Valmeyer, Illinois and his school, which suffered through the 1993
flood. Support from the FFA chapter has been instrumental in improving
the community and the agricultural education program. The new
agriculture facilities include a computer lab, a greenhouse, numerous
aquaculture tanks, an apple orchard, and a grape and bramble nursery.
The old school site was salvaged becoming the FFA farm. Courses in
horticulture, computers, and aquaculture were added providing more
opportunities for students. Another project included transforming former
hog buildings into profitable aquaculture facilities.
Heavner has developed an agricultural education
program that challenges students from the highest to the lowest in class
rank. Participation in FFA events develops valuable career skills and
self-confidence in the students. It has led to seven years as a gold
emblem FFA chapter. The program is marketed through newspapers,
newsletters and the chapter banquet. In addition, a grant obtained from
the Illinois State Board of Education allowed for the addition of ten
20-gallon aquariums, which are used in elementary school classrooms.
Fish, fish food, and water testing equipment are provided to the
elementary teachers.
Heavner has served two terms on the Illinois FFA Board
of Directors and he has been the chair of the advisory committee of the
Illinois association of agricultural educators.
Howard Heavner was the 1999 NAAE Region IV
Outstanding Agricultural Education Teacher. If you want to learn more
about Howard and the Valmeyer Unit District #3 agricultural education
program, call him at (618) 935-2777. If you want to know more
about the NAAE  Outstanding
Teacher Awards Program, call the NAAE office at (800) 772-0939.
This award program is sponsored by New Holland, as a special
project of the National FFA Foundation. |
New Freshman
Scholarship Program
The Florida Department of
Citrus and Florida Citrus Growers are again sponsoring the
NAAE New Freshman Scholarship Program for 2001. Thanks  to this
sponsorship, NAAE will award ten $500 scholarships to students who
will enter a college or university in the fall of 2001 and major in
agricultural education with the intention of becoming an ag teacher
after graduation.
To be eligible for these
scholarships, each applicant must:
- Be an ag ed student and
a FFA member.
- Be a high school senior
planning to pursue a career as an agriculture teacher.
- Attend a high school
where the ag ed/FFA program conducts a Fresh Florida Citrus Product
Fundraiser.
Applications are available
from the NAAE office by calling (800) 772-0939, ext. 4367. The
postmark deadline for submitting applications is February 1, 2001. |