State Senator Andy Vidak and Assemblymember Rudy Salas with FFA students at the Grand Opening of Hanford Joint Union High School District's agricultural farm and learning laboratory on January 19, 2018.
July 4, 2018 - SACRAMENTO – State Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) and ten other legislators on Tuesday called on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson to fill the Superior Region Supervisor/Future Farmers of America (FFA) Advisor position.
Regional FFA supervisors provide much-needed support, resources, and guidance to agricultural teachers across the state along with students in FFA. Specifically, the Superior Region Supervisor/FFA Advisor position has been left vacant for the last two years, requiring other regional supervisors to help cover the region. Students and ag teachers in the Superior Region have suffered as a result of the situation. Click here to view a map of the six FFA regions.
On June 22, the California Department of Education released a draft plan that would eliminate the current six-region system and replace it with a five-region system. The proposed change would mean more schools and students would be in each region, which in turn would be a detriment to the learning experience of ag students.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with Superintendent Torlakson and his staff so that we ensure FFA students in California continue to thrive in FFA programs that provide them with a passion for agriculture,” Vidak said. “FFA programs are vital to farmers and farmworkers in California and play a crucial role in teaching students about agriculture. Our well-run and highly respected FFA programs inspire thousands of K-12 students each year to pursue college degrees and careers in agriculture. We are urging Superintendent Torlakson to abandon the five region proposal and immediately move forward with a plan to fill the Superior Region’s Supervisor/FFA Advisor position.”
Joining Vidak’s letter are Senator Jean Fuller, Senator Tom Berryhill, Senator Anthony Cannella, Assemblymember Heath Flora, Assemblymember Vince Fong, Assemblymember Devon Mathis, Assemblymember Tom Lackey, Assemblymember Jim Patterson, Assemblymember Rudy Salas, and Assemblymember Frank Bigelow.
Click here to view a copy of the letter. (pdf)
Source: Senator Andy Vidak
