What is Agricultural Education?
Agricultural education is a systematic program of instruction available to students desiring to learn about the science, business, and technology of plant and animal production and about environmental and natural resource systems. Agricultural education first became a part of the public education system in 1917 when the U.S. Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act. Today, over 1,200,000 students participate in formal agricultural education instructional programs offered in grades five through adult in all 50 states and additional U.S. territories. Learn more about the history of agricultural education.
Agricultural education instruction is provided locally through the nation’s public, private, charter, and distance-delivered schools. State leadership is provided through various agencies and institutions, including state departments of education, state departments of agriculture, land-grant universities, community colleges, and other entities. The U.S. Department of Education provides federal leadership. All agricultural education organizations engage in local, state, and national programs and activities. The umbrella organization for the agricultural education community is the National Council for Agricultural Education (The Council).
The Three Components of Agricultural Education
Students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth, and career success. Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components:
Classroom/Laboratory Instruction (Contextual Learning)
Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs (Work-Based and Experiential Learning)
Student Leadership Development (through the National FFA Organization, MANRRS, and National PAS)
The Integral Nature of Instruction, FFA, and SAE (Work-Based Learning)
As agricultural education continues to evolve, Dr. Travis Park, the National Director of Agricultural Education, highlights in this memorandum, the enduring strength of the comprehensive, school-based model—combining classroom instruction, SAE - Supervised Agricultural Experience (Work-Based Learning), and FFA. Grounded in decades of educational policy and practice, it affirms why all three components are essential to delivering high-quality agricultural education. Read the full memorandum here.
It Starts in the Classroom
Watch the National Association for Agricultural Educators (NAAE) documentary “It Starts in the Classroom” - a compelling short film that follows pre‑service Agriculture Teachers through real student‑teaching journeys. It’s a must‑see for anyone curious about what it takes to inspire the next wave of agriculture educators. Want to become an Agriculture Teacher? Learn more by clicking the “Why #TeachAg?” button below!