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FFA, 4‑H and ag leadership leaders ask lawmakers to fund camps and leadership programs on Ag Day
Summary
Young leaders from FFA, 4‑H and an agriculture leadership program told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee about the role of camp and leadership programs in training future agriculturalists and asked for investment in facilities and STEM programming.
On Ag Day at the State Capitol, youth leaders and agricultural program participants told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee that investing in camps and leadership programs helps prepare future farmers and natural‑resources professionals.
T'Wang Williams, representing FFA, told committee members Camp Clements — which the speaker described as the nation’s oldest FFA camp — has hosted more than 50,000 students, advisors and guests over 95 years and helps participants find career direction. "Shortly after that week at camp, Daltrey reached out to me and said that his perspective on the agriculture industry had been completely transformed," Williams said, describing one student’s decision to change his college major to agricultural business after attending camp.
Gabe Harville, the 2024–25 Tennessee 4‑H state council president, told the committee Tennessee 4‑H serves roughly 151,000 members in 29 project areas and that annual camp programs reach roughly 20,000 youth, including 5,000 4‑H campers and 15,000 students visiting from school classrooms. Harville noted Governor Bill Lee’s proposed budget includes $46,000,000 for improvements to 4‑H camps and for implementing STEM centers at the state’s four camps, and urged lawmakers to support those investments.
Benji Daniel, a sixth‑generation farmer and member of the inaugural Tennessee Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program cohort, thanked the Department of Agriculture and several sponsors for establishing the program and said it helps develop leadership skills farmers use in community and organizational service.
Speakers emphasized that camps and leadership programs create tangible workforce and civic benefits by exposing students to conservation, STEM and agriculture careers. Committee members acknowledged the presentations and applauded the student participants who attended Ag Day events.
The presenters and organizations named during the Ag Day remarks included Camp Clements, the FFA, Tennessee 4‑H, the Clyde M. York 4‑H Center, the UT Institute of Agriculture, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, Farm Credit Mid‑America, Tennessee Farm Bureau and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s leadership program.
