U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) on Oct. 6 introduced a bipartisan bill that would authorize grant awards for new agricultural education programs in America’s secondary schools.
“Restoring a robust rural economy depends largely upon appealing to the next generation,” Rep. Thompson said. “Investing in education is perhaps the most commonsense way to prepare individuals who are passionate about a career in agriculture for the workforce.”
Rep. Thompson is an original cosponsor of the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO AG) Act, H.R. 8535, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), which would create a $5 million grant program to help high schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education programs.
Secondary schools could apply for the competitive grants to cover classroom and laboratory instruction, teacher salaries and curriculum development, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Thompson’s office.
“The GO AG Act is not only an investment in agriculture education but also the future of our agricultural supply chain,” said Rep. Thompson.
The bill has garnered support from several groups, including the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the National Founding Farmers of America (FFA), and the Missouri Farm Bureau.
“Agricultural education plays an important role not only in FFA but in developing a future generation of leaders. Through hands-on experiential learning, students in agricultural education develop skill-sets to help them succeed in life,” said Dr. James Woodward, National FFA Advisor.