BAKERSFIELD,CA - Agricultural mechanics, animal sciences, and leadership skills through Future Farmers of America are just some of the courses taught through the Kern High School District agriculture education program.
"They have you do a resume and just get you ready to get a job so it helps you a lot. It's helped me a lot defiantly," said Liberty High School student Ethan Evans.
But some ag teachers are worried about the future of the programs.
"We're really concerned about ag education losing funding for the things that we do over and above what we do in the classroom," said Ralph Mendes, Kern High School District agriculture coordinator.
Many school districts fund their ag programs through the agricultural career technical education incentive grant program. This year, the district received $170,000 from the $4.1 million grant.
That grant was no where to be seen in Governor Jerry Brown's 2014-2015 state budget.
"Our students are traveling a lot, they are participating in competitions. They are participating in leadership conferences and those are the things we wouldn't be able to do if we lost the ag incentive grant," said Mendes.
District officials say last year, the state switched to the locally controlled funding formula to eliminate categorical programs and place them in a large fund and distribute the money statewide.
Mendes says ag education is a categorical program which shares funds with programs like R.O.P. and special education, putting ag funding at risk for single school districts like McFarland or Wasco who may have other priorities.
"So we're worried that when priorities get set at districts that ag isn't going to be one of the main ones," said Mendes.
"They have you do a resume and just get you ready to get a job so it helps you a lot. It's helped me a lot defiantly," said Liberty High School student Ethan Evans.
But some ag teachers are worried about the future of the programs.
"We're really concerned about ag education losing funding for the things that we do over and above what we do in the classroom," said Ralph Mendes, Kern High School District agriculture coordinator.
Many school districts fund their ag programs through the agricultural career technical education incentive grant program. This year, the district received $170,000 from the $4.1 million grant.
That grant was no where to be seen in Governor Jerry Brown's 2014-2015 state budget.
"Our students are traveling a lot, they are participating in competitions. They are participating in leadership conferences and those are the things we wouldn't be able to do if we lost the ag incentive grant," said Mendes.
District officials say last year, the state switched to the locally controlled funding formula to eliminate categorical programs and place them in a large fund and distribute the money statewide.
Mendes says ag education is a categorical program which shares funds with programs like R.O.P. and special education, putting ag funding at risk for single school districts like McFarland or Wasco who may have other priorities.
"So we're worried that when priorities get set at districts that ag isn't going to be one of the main ones," said Mendes.