November 2019 Golden Slate

November 2019

In This Issue

Sacramento Scene:

Evolution, Politics and an Editorial

California Department of Education Update:

What is Coming Next?

News & Views:

Diversity and Inclusion: Now What?
California FFA Needs Your Help
Nominate Your Favorite California Agricultural Teacher to be the 2019-2020 Golden Owl Award® FFA State Star Advisor

Evolution, Politics and an Editorial

B y: Matt Patton, CATA Executive Director

“Newsom supporter” is what the comment posted to the California FFA newsletter stated. It was written in direct response to the “Sacramento Scene” article in the October Golden Slate. The comment is greatly appreciated as it caused a lot of reflection in terms of the purpose of the Sacramento Scene section of the Golden Slate and its potential audience. Moving the Golden Slate into the digital era has been an enlightening and educational experience. The release of the publication on a new platform means that more people read and have access to CATA’s communications. This medium also means that data and feedback is more accessible and more immediate than ever before.

What is Coming Next?

By: Charles Parker, California Department of Education State FFA Advisor

As I sit here in my cubicle, staring at the computer screen, I wonder what will be next! I can most certainly share that in the short eight months in this position, I have realized that I know much less than I thought, and I continually find myself navigating through the challenges.

Diversity and Inclusion: Now What?

By: Dane White, North Coast Region Supervisor, CDE

Perhaps my naivete will show here, but I think we’re close to rounding a critical corner when it comes to our professional conversation about the meaningful inclusion of diverse populations in agricultural education. My observations indicate we are past defining inclusion and are well on our way to recognizing en masse that inclusion is both a moral and practical imperative to agricultural education. Should this assessment of our general progress be accurate, that moves us into a phase of question asking, investigation and systemic solution exploration.

California FFA Needs Your Help

B y: Matt Patton, CATA Executive Director

Since its inception in 2014, the California Agricultural License Plate program has raised over two-million dollars for agricultural education. The program, sponsored by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), distributes ninety-cents of every dollar generated by the program in the form of grants to agricultural education organizations. Recipients of these grants have been organizations such as California Agriculture in the Classroom, California State Fair Farm Tours, Madera District Fair, Enrich LA and the California FFA. At inception, the program needed 7,500 plates to be sanctioned by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Many of those plates were put on the road by the efforts of students and teachers of the California FFA. Currently, the program is in danger of being cancelled unless an additional 3,100 plates are put on the road. California FFA and the agricultural community at large are being called to action to continue this program.

Nominate Your Favorite California Agricultural Teacher to be the 2019-2020 Golden Owl Award FFA State Star Advisor

By: Nationwide Insurance

As the number one farm insurer in the United States, Nationwide is bringing attention to the importance of agricultural education and the tremendous contributions of teachers. In partnership with the California Farm Bureau Federation and California FFA, Nationwide expanded the Golden Owl Award® to California. Now through February 1, 2020, students, parents, fellow teachers or other supporters are encouraged to nominate their favorite agricultural teacher for a chance to be recognized as one of the best in the state. To nominate your favorite agricultural teacher, visit www.goldenowlaward.com .