For Immediate Release
February 12, 2007
Contact:  Lisa Landis
Legislative Assistant
717-787-6709
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February 17-24 is FFA Week in Pennsylvania

State Senate unanimously approves Senator Brubaker's resolution

HARRISBURG – The state Senate is recognizing the week of February 17-24, 2007, as FFA Week in Pennsylvania, state Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36) announced today.

The Senate unanimously approved the resolution introduced by Brubaker making the designation."The Future Farmers of America organization provides young people across the country with opportunities to become leaders in all areas of the agriculture industry, including production, agribusiness and food science," Brubaker said. "It is my honor to congratulate all members and leaders on their service to their communities, their Commonwealth, and their country."

FFA membership has reached a 22-year record high, with nearly 500,000 young people involved in the organization across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Pennsylvania boasts a membership of 7,888, and is also home to the largest FFA Chapter in the nation at the Walter Biddle Saul High School in Philadelphia.

Members who live in rural areas now represent 27 percent of the national organization, and females comprise 37 percent of total membership and almost 50 percent of all FFA officer teams.

"I am very pleased to see how the backgrounds of these young men and women have become more diverse over they years," Brubaker said. "Even though many members now live far from working farms, they are cultivating an interest in related fields like food science, turf management and horticulture."

"The FFA creed expresses belief in the future of agriculture, and I truly believe that we are seeing the growth of a generation that will help maintain agriculture as the number one industry in Pennsylvania," Brubaker said.