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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Enrollment in state high school agriculture programs is the highest it's been since the 1950s, but officials say further growth is being slowed by the lack of qualified teachers.
Alarmed by the obstacles in developing ag educators, the Nebraska Farm Bureau on Thursday announced a new scholarship and loan assistance program. The announcement came as 3,800 members of the FFA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, swarmed through downtown Lincoln during their state convention.
The scholarships will be available to students in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's agriculture education program and will pay $1,200 during a semester of student teaching. The loan assistance program is for educators with student loans. Those granted the loan assistance will get help over five years, starting at $500 the first year and increasing annually.
Matt Kreifels, state director of agricultural education for the Nebraska Education Department, told the Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/1hFW5xl ) that within the past four years, 10 schools had to delay plans to start ag programs because they couldn't find teachers.
"The most critical issue facing agriculture education and FFA chapters in Nebraska today is a teacher shortage," Kreifels said.
An average starting salary of $31,000 for Nebraska teachers makes it tough to attract college graduates who struggle to pay off student loans. But quality teachers are essential to getting kids excited about farming when Nebraska's population is becoming more urban and disconnected from its leading industry, Kreifels said.
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