1/31/08 10x15

10x15. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. I was not fortunate enough to have been part of FFA growing up. Looking back now it would have been a great experience to be a part of. I wonder if I'm too old. Anyway, the FFA is taking aim at growing the organization during 2008 according to Bill Stagg, Information Services Division Director. STAGG: What we're doing today is talking about 10x15. It's an ambitious growth and quality program for agricultural education. Basically, we've looked across the United States  there are not enough agricultural education programs to meet the needs of industry. True, there are programs but Stagg says there needs to be an increase. STAGG: There's 7-thousand 300 programs but the nation has got 15-thousand high schools. We want to have 10-thousand programs in place by the year 2015. But it's not just growing the number of programs, its' improving the quality of agri-science education and that's what 10x15 is all about. Eight major initiatives involving all of agricultural education and the industry to make sure we've got the leadership and manpower for tomorrows agriculture. Even with the need to increase the number of programs FFA membership is strong. STAGG: Numbers could not be better. Our membership is the highest it's been in 29 years. We just tipped the half million mark, we're at 501-thousand  very, very pleased but it's a leadership, personal development and career development program. Many people will remember FFA as Future Farmer of America  it's the science, business and technology of agriculture all the different careers. The growth is there but it's in the existing programs. Now some of our largest programs are in 11 out of the 15 largest cities; New York, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia. When I was a kid most of the farm kids were in FFA while the city kids were not. According to Stagg, urban areas have really been picking up. STAGG: About a third of our membership comes from urban and urban suburban areas and the rest come from traditional rural or small town areas. So clearly the base of this program is in the rural communities and smaller towns but the largest growth has been in the urban areas. Agri-science and all the different careers that are dealt with including landscaping and horticulture and forestry (have) terrific appeal for students no matter where they are. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.