08/08/07 Perkins Act funding

A lot of people were surprised when Congress put an additional 25 million dollars into funding for the Perkins Act. Perkins provides the funding for agricultural education classes and FFA in high schools. American Farm Bureau's Pat Wolff says Congress has steadfastly supported ag education. WOLFF "Many leaders in agriculture have come up through the FFA program. They realize that if agriculture is to have the strong voice down the road that young people need to be trained and need to be comfortable in these roles and that's what FFA does for agriculture as a whole and for Farm Bureau." Wolff says the Perkins Act funding allows students who want vocational training, to learn a trade or get hands on experience can get that. WOLFF "There are also programs that include rigorous science, English or social studies majors so a student can take a career and technical path and be fully prepared to go to college." Wolff says every year in Washington you'll see visitors in blue jackets hitting the offices of their representatives and senators. WOLFF "A lot of people who are willing to come to Washington or pick up the phone and call their congressman and tell them 'hey, let's put some more money into these programs'." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott