Tech F.F.A. Chapter Urges Van Drew: Help Save Dept. of Agriculture

CREST HAVEN — Future Farmers of America: It’s not just about farms anymore; it’s about agri-business and professions. Without the state Department of Agriculture, what will happen to F.F.A.?
In an unusual move on March 13, the Cape May County Technical School’s F.F.A. Chapter invited Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) to its greenhouse classroom, underscored the above theme, then asked him to do all within his legislative powers to help save the state Department of Agriculture from Gov. Jon. Corzine’s budget scythe.
As part of a formal chapter meeting, with officers in their seats wearing their blue and yellow F.F.A. jackets, members asked questions of a supportive Van Drew.
“It’s so important to have agriculture in New Jersey. We are the Garden State, and we want to keep the garden in the Garden State,” said Van Drew
If the department were folded into the Department of Environmental Protection, that would not give agriculture the “advocacy” it needs at the cabinet level, the senator told the students.
“The functions of the D.E.P. are very unique and different than the Department of Agriculture,” said Van Drew.
“At time, frankly, they aren’t on the same page. My point is we need the advocacy that is a function of the Department of Agriculture. We need advocacy and people who will fight for farming and that way of life,” he continued.
He cited the difficult life farmers had, and said some generations-old farmers are saying, “There aren’t that many people helping us.”
Teacher JoAnn Sopchak told Van Drew the gathering was meant to show “concern for the N.J. Department of Agriculture, we do not want to see it eliminate. A lot of folks are not aware of the fact that the Office of Agricultural Education and F.F.A. are administered through the state Department of Agriculture. We are not sure where we will end up.”
Later, she told Van Drew that agricultural education is “no longer teaching farming, but science and technology of today’s agriculture. We (nationally) are 20,000 people in the hole with 60,000-plus jobs available in agriculture and agri-business. When people think agriculture, there is an image of a farmer on a tractor, through agricultural education and involvement in F.F.A., these kids experience so much more,” Sopchak said.
“We want to let you know it is not just the farmers, and agri-businesses in New Jersey, but there is a huge contingency in agricultural education and F.F.A. members that will be affected also,” Sopchak continued.
Van Drew lauded the chapter members for bringing him into the school and voicing their concerns. He urged them to mount an e-mail message campaign to legislators and the governor, aided by a letters to the editor campaign to heighten public awareness of their concerns.
After Van Drew fielded questions, he toured the greenhouse facility, led by F.F.A. chapter members.