For the past 16 years, James Horn has been an agricultural education instructor at Newton High School and an advisor for Future Farmers of America. During that time, I never got tired of watching shy freshmen transform into confident leaders who can speak at huge conferences. In front of thousands of people in a hall.
“It's been great to see their confidence grow,” Horn said.
It's a familiar coming-of-age story for Horn. As a student, a farm kid, and a member of his FFA, Horne developed valuable skills that he believes motivated him to become a teacher and share his passion for agriculture with children. Of course, while he is an agriculture teacher in a rural school district, he is also an FFA advisor.
Mr. Horne's classroom is decorated in FFA's national blue and corn gold hues. However, the “classroom'' in agricultural education is more than just textbooks and desks. Horn often teaches lessons in nearby greenhouses, garages, or even fields.
Agricultural education is a three-circle model: classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experiences, and FFA. The latter is a leadership organization that allows students to develop their unique talents and explore their interests in a wide range of agricultural career paths. In Newton, he says FFA is still going strong.
“FFA is a year-round activity. It's during class, after school and all summer long,” Horn said. “FFA allows children to compete and showcase what they have learned in the classroom and through SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) projects.”
Competitions are held throughout the year, so there is always an opportunity for students to compete. Newton FFA has also been very successful. Especially in the past year.
In October 2023, Newton FFA's state champion Agronomy and Ag Mechanics teams represented Iowa at the 96th National FFA Convention.
Both teams achieved high rankings. The agronomy team of Lauren VanManen, Austin Storm, Brianna Leeming and Madeline Adkison placed eighth in the nation. Meanwhile, the Ag Mechanics team of Tyler Guy, Colin Cummins, Landon Meninga and Wesley McElroy placed third in the nation.
At the Iowa FFA Convention this April, nine Newton FFA members earned their Iowa FFA degrees, which Horn said is the highest degree a student can earn at the state level. One of his members received the Reserve State Champion Skills Award for his work on the SAE project.
The Newton FFA Farm Management Team placed fifth at the state competition, and the team competed in the Poultry Judging Contest and the Green Hand Quiz Contest. The list is endless. That makes sense for FFA. The number of activities and contests is virtually endless and extremely accessible.
“There's a lot going on all the time,” Horn said. “There’s something for everyone as long as you’re interested in agriculture, and it’s within the agriculture program and FFA…We’ve had some success over the past few years. We even made it to nationals the year before. There was a horse racing team that was great.
degrees and awards teeth Newton FFA students love to set their sights on taking home a trophy, but Horne believes the values they learn and the appreciation for agriculture they develop along the way will help them achieve whatever hardware they earn. said that it is more important than
“As our society moves further and further away from knowing where our food comes from, it is essential that children receive agricultural education in school,” Horn says. “FFA allows them to experience leadership opportunities at the local, state, and international levels that they would not otherwise have.”
Newton FFA currently has approximately 90 high school students as members. While enrollment declines have had some impact on membership, it is notable that FFA has increased each year in the 15 years since Horne became advisor.
Word of mouth spread quickly, and Horne said the best recruiters are current FFA members who enjoy what they're learning and getting out of the program. Mr. Horn is fortunate to have the best students he has ever had, many of whom he has taught all four years of high school, he said.
“That creates a special bond between teachers and students there,” he says. “I'm very blessed with my children.”
Why do students want to attend agriculture classes all four years? Horne said a hands-on learning process likely contributed. Although there are children from farmers in the class, Horne said the majority of the students are not from farming families or have any farming background. It's a new experience for them.
“Probably 90 percent of my students aren’t from a farm background…but it’s different than any other class,” he said. “I enjoy watching kids reach potential they never knew they had in leadership, academics, and athletics. I am excited to see how well these kids will become in our program. I like watching it.”
Q&A with James Horn:
What is your background in agriculture and FFA?
Horn: I am a graduate of Newton High School, where I took agriculture classes and grew up on a farm outside of Newton. My whole life has been around it. We now also farm south of town. It's something I've always had a passion for. I enjoyed playing FFA in high school, so I thought I might be able to make a living doing it. i am here.
What do you say about the current state of agricultural education in Iowa?
Horn: When it comes to agricultural education, programs in the state are growing. We add new chapters every year. FFA membership in the state is increasing. We have approximately 20,000 members across the state. The number of members nationwide is also increasing. It's hot now. It's a good time to farm. It's a good time to get involved in agricultural education because the demand is so high.
Isn't interest in agriculture increasing?
Horn: In other words, agricultural education courses are being added to urban schools. It's an exciting time to be in this industry. There are a lot of high-tech technologies in agriculture now, so it's probably attracting more non-traditional students. I believe there is a place for everyone in agriculture and agricultural education. It's really growing by leaps and bounds.
Do you look forward to coming to school every day?
Horn: I enjoy the challenge. I enjoy being able to do something different at each hour of the day. We can be both inside and outside. We will be participating in the tournament. Yes, there's always something fun waiting around the corner.
And you'll be able to wear boots!
Horn: (laughs) And now I can wear boots.
