Neighbors April 2011 | Page 10

NEW AG DEPT & FFA CHAPTER Almond-Bancroft Schools By Ruth Johnson, Editor MAJOR ALMOND-BANCROFT AREA AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS Paramount Farms Wysocki Produce Farm, Inc Paragon Potato Farms Inc Warzynski Paradise Farms Inc Oak Grove Farms Charles Warzynski Farm Guth Farm Inc Phillip A Rendall Farms Inc D & H Farms LLC Patrykus Farms Inc Mortenson Brothers Farms Inc Woyak Farms Inc James Burns & Sons K & K Farms, Inc Central Wisconsin is the heart of our state’s dairy, fruit, grain, vegetable and livestock producers. Agriculture’s importance is clearly understood and the need for qualified workers is abundant. Wisconsin places a high priority on preparing students for agricultural careers while developing their leadership skills through FFA and Supervised Agriculture Experiences (SAE). However, funding cutbacks have seriously curtailed educational activities statewide and many schools have cut Agriculture-related opportunities. CHARTING A NEW COURSE In Fall 2010. the Almond-Bancroft School District bucked this trend and instituted a brand new Agricultural Department and FFA organization for the first time ever, in its history. (Continued on Page 11) Top: Almond-Bancroft’s Agriculture and FFA program participants got psyched up for the Kick-off Spud Feed to introduce people to the newly formed FFA. According to FFA Program Director, Jodi Meyer, “The Spud Feed was a huge success and everyone had a fabulous time!” Left: The AlmondBancroft area lives and breathes agriculture. Page 10 Neighbors-April 2011