What is an FFA Chapter/ AgriScience Program if doesn’t have any members? Just an ordinary club and a boring class.
The key ingredient for having a successful program is having not only FFA members but AgriScience Students!!
Recruiting member just doesn’t happen over night, it is something that takes hard work and dedication. The first step in recruiting members is defining who your target is. A good basis for recruiting is; younger members that are looking to belong, students who are involved in agriculture, 4-H members, students working in a agricultural related business, math and science students, and students that aren’y involved in other school organizations.
AgriScience Students and FFA members come in all varieties, so I find it very important to have recruiting events and events in general that take to the needs and interests of everyone. Host events that will appeal to diverse groups of students. Also host unusual events that promote career opportunities within the realm of agricultural science program, along with the highlights and benefits of FFA. Getting the community and school involved serves as recruitment itself because it showcases what the members do on a regular basis.
Once you have the potential members attention, it’s time to reel them in. The potential students need to know what’s in it for them. Relating the students wants and needs make them more intrigued that just by seeing other members in action, and reading about. Bringing their needs and wants to attention they get the sense of belonging. Making recruiting personal gives the potential students a picture they could paint, and visualize themselves in the program.
Once you have gained new members how do you keep them?
There are many things and incentives for a students that remain in the program. Very simple actions can go along way. Recognizing students for their efforts. Students like to be recognized wether that is a simple ” good job” or an article in the paper. Making students feel special and needed is must and helps the student feel like they belong. Make class interesting. You can not have FFA members if there is not AgriScience Students. Having an entertaining class, will keep those students coming back for more. Outlining the incentives and opportunities in the classroom, and the FFA program has to offer. When students set a goal for themselves they try hard and work at it to achieve. Relating the opportunities and achievements offered throughout the duration of the program to them, makes it seem more real to them , and tangible. Involvement and including lets the students be in the know and they have a chance to have fun outside of the classroom. With the students having fun in and outside of the classroom, they are already recruiting others by sharing their experiences, and strengthening why they joined in the first place.
Marketing and planning play a big part in recruiting and retention. If the word doesn’t get out about the chapter no one can plan to attend events that you are planning to have potential members. You also want the marketing of the chapter and program to always be in good light. No one wants to belong to an organization that has a bad reputation. Marketing can also serve a good recruitment plan because if you have literature about the events or even the program, the reader is going to want more information based upon that.
Qualification for membership:
– Enrolled in an AgriScience Class
– Have a Productive SAE
Responsibilities and Expectations:
– Always portray the FFA in a positive manner
– Participate in at Least 2 FFA activities other than attending Banquet
– Be willing to help others/ role model
Removing a student:
– Students failing a class
– Student doesn’t want to be in program.
Possible Recruitment Activities:
– Create Flyers and Brochures that highlight the benefits and opportunities that the chapter/program offer. Place those flyers on the school bulletin board. Send brochures home with students body, or if the town has a parade give the brochures out while walking in the parade.
– Have a fair booth. Create a booth at the fair that other students in the school, district and community can see what is happening in the chapter and program. Having others witness the good that is going on in the chapter will start small talk and encouragement to other.
– Participate in town and school events. getting your feet wet with various community and school organizations lets not only other students see what you are doing in the program, but community members as well. getting involved could include creating a booth at the local farmers market, that the students showcase the products of their SAE, and they have the chance to communicate with other about the program and SAE.
– Contests at the school. Host contest during lunch and studyhall that the student body can partake in. The contests will consist of content that students could obtain the the agriscience classroom. Winners will receive a prize. Such contests could be nail driving, or screw driving contest. Students have the chance to experince content from an agriscience classroom, and they will be excited and want to know more information on the program.