Parents and students urge MSD Steuben County to preserve Angola High School agriculture program and FFA

At the MSD Steuben County school board meeting, parents, students and alumni urged the district to keep Angola High School’s agriculture program and its FFA chapter amid scheduling changes and concern that the program may not be reinstated for next year.

“I am Julie Fetch, a parent of a student who is in the AG program. I am here to support the agriculture program,” Julie Fetch told the board, saying guidance counselors had changed student schedules and that the ag teacher position “has not been posted to my knowledge.”

Supporters told the board the program provides leadership, career skills and dual-credit opportunities. “Ag classes allow more hands on and experiential learning for kids,” said Amelia Walker, a junior and president of the Angola chapter of FFA. “Every week we do public speaking in that class.”

The students and parents described the program as a retention tool for students who do not fit the traditional classroom model. “FFA kept them in school and made them keep going,” Julie Fetch said of multiple students; alumnus Troy Sellers said FFA “helps you build leadership … character, integrity.”

Students and officers described practical elements of the pathway: Brooke Clark, vice president of Angola FFA, said the high school offers three ag classes plus an agricultural capstone that counts as a supervised agricultural experience (SAE). “You have to be enrolled in one of those classes” to participate in FFA, she told the board.

Board and staff responses at the meeting made clear the district had not placed the program “on the block” that evening but was reviewing numbers and staffing. A district administrator said the high school was “in the middle of staffing right now” and that, if posted, the position might be limited to a half-time arrangement (three to four periods) because current enrollment projections are low. The administrator added that if the district could not find a licensed agricultural teacher, the board would need to direct staff whether to continue running the classes or to reshuffle students into other course options.

Board member questions and staff remarks emphasized logistics and next steps rather than a final decision. The superintendent thanked speakers and said board members did not want to “limit” opportunities while staff explored options. The district encouraged families to meet with guidance counselors so schedule choices reflect diploma requirements and course availability.

No formal vote was taken on the agriculture program at the meeting. Board members and staff said they would continue to evaluate enrollment, teacher licensing and possible partnerships with nearby schools as they finalize next year’s schedules.