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AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES (AFNR) EDUCATION - SUPPORT FOR THE SCIENCE, BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY OF AGRICULTURE
WHEREAS, the New Jersey secondary Agricultural Education goals include 1) advocating standards for quality Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) Education programs; 2) delivering technologically advanced, scientific and applied AFNR Education to prepare students for successful careers while meeting State Core Curriculum Content Standards; and 3) insuring that all students have access to progressive educational delivery systems in AFNR Education; and  

WHEREAS, the science, business and technology of agriculture is a vital part of American society, business and commerce with projected annual employment opportunities for 52,000 agriculture college graduates and that the awareness, knowledge and application of agriculture should be integral to the State Core Curriculum Content Standards; and

WHEREAS, one of the priorities in the Governor’s Economic Growth Strategy identifies the need to develop a world-class workforce by assisting the State’s students and job seekers in obtaining the skills and education needed to be competitive in the global economy.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 92nd State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on February 14, 2007, recommend strong support for agricultural education instructional programs delivering content in and about the science, business and technology of agriculture.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we recommend the continuation of ongoing interagency agreements between the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and New Jersey Department of Education to administer the AFNR Education program and FFA educational organization to continue organizational growth, program development and improvement grants to State-approved agricultural education programs to strengthen, improve, and update curriculum, provide professional development of teachers and improve facilities in schools that prepare students for the agriculture, food and natural resources industry.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we support all efforts to strengthen the connections between high school and college/university agriculture programs, thus creating a seamless transition between New Jersey high schools, county colleges and four-year colleges, as an effort to prepare people to meet the diverse and expanding employment demands of the science, business and technology of agriculture.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State Core Curriculum Content Standards be revised to include standards for career and technical skills in the science, business and technology of agriculture, as well as an appreciation and understanding of agriculture, our nation’s largest industry, as an effort to implement the Governor’s Economic Growth Strategy.