Minnesota 4-H Changing With The Times
FFA used to promote them selves all the time as Future Farmers of America. But with less members actually coming from farms and farming families, they decided to simply start calling themselves FFA. Well now Minnesota 4-H recognizes the change in demographics and they are expanding from their farming roots.
The University Extension Center for youth Development Director, Bradley Rugg, says a new animal leasing program can help make agriculture accessible to all kids, by allowing children without an animal to care for and train a mentor's farm animal and show it at fairs and other contests.
The United States Department of Agriculture says the number of Minnesota Farms has fallen by more than half from 1940 to 2010.