Rural Flight/Urban Sprawl

Urban Sprawl is low density, automobile dependent development beyond the edge of service and employment areas. Its effects are impacting the quality of life in every region of America, in our large cities and small towns. Since World War II, the American Dream has been a house in the suburbs, white picket fence, and two cars in the driveway. In recent years this dream has been abandoned. Recently the trend has been to develop farms and forests into developments or malls. The American Farmland Trust has reported that 70 percent of prime farmland is in the path of development.

Some of the downsides of Urban Sprawl are:

1. Loss of farmland

2. Loss of wildlife habitat

3. Increase tax burden

4. Increase of air pollution

5. Increase water use and pollution

6. Increase in energy consumption

7. Social Fragmentation

8. Loss of time

9. Increased private costs and risks

10. Loss of exercise

11. Noisy Surroundings

12. Tourism industry damage

Rural Flight is by definition the migratory patterns of people from rural areas into urban areas. This often occurs in a region following the industrialization of agriculture when fewer people are needed to bring the same amount of agriculture related services and industries are consolidated.

A Green and Peaceful Future from Greenpeace

Greenpeace International is the largest independent (non-government) direct-action environmental activist group in the world. They do not accept money from the government. Greenpeace activists are against over fishing, whale slaughter, deforestation, mountain top removal, coal company pollutants, and global warming. Activists have gone as far as hanging a banner from Mt. Rushmore to raise awareness about stopping global warming.

Researching Greenpeace, I learned that not all activist groups are violent. Greenpeace tries to keep their protests and demonstrations at a respectable level, and not take them overboard. Though, hanging a banner from Mt. Rushmore was a very risky protest, Greenpeace activists did it anyway, and even video taped it, and added it to their videos website. Greenpeace activists seem to be very unafraid of the consequences of their actions.

Not only is Greenpeace trying to help stop global warming, deforestation, etc., but they are also trying to help agriculture along the way. According to the Greenpeace website, 99.5% of farmers worldwide do not use Genetically Engineered foods. Greenpeace activists also oppose the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers stating that the use of such fertilizers is contributing to global warming. Greenpeace believes in producing food without destruction.

Greenpeace’s solution to Genetically Engineered foods is Organic Agriculture, this meaning using local resources. Organic practices offer farmers opportunities to increase their income and livelihood. Greenpeace is concerned about the hungry children of the world. They also believe that in order to produce enough food for the growing population there need to be radical changes in our farming systems.

While researching Greenpeace, I also realized instead of producing enough crops to sustain a local population, industrial agriculture produces crops to sell in world markets. Greenpeace is all for changing agriculture practices throughout the world. Though some of the practices around the world need some major changed but not all practices are not in need of change.

Growth

Through FFA, I grew as a person. I learned that FFA wasn't just a bunch of "farmers" in silly blue jackets like the stereotype (in my high school) would suggest. In FFA we are sometimes pushed out of our comfort zones. Being pushed from our comfort zones causes us to grow as FFA members, students, and people. Thanks to my advisor, I was pushed from my comfort zone and into FFA where I made friends and grew as a person. Thanks to FFA I am an Agricultural Education major. Without this personal growth, I would not be where I am today!

Teamwork

FFA members are taught the value of teamwork. Though some CDE's are individual competitions, others require teamwork. FFA CDE's teach students how to effectively work with one another. Working as a team for FFA prepares students for the future when they will all have to work as a team at some point or another.

Respect

Respect: A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

Through FFA, we are taught respect. Respect for our advisors, fellow FFA members, fellow classmates, ourselves, and anyone we may meet in or outside of the blue jacket.

Agricultural Education

For me, Agricultural Education has been the most important part of my high school (and now college) experience. If it was not for Agriculture, FFA, and my high school FFA advisor, Jenny Bergmann, I would not be where I am today. Without the push from Mrs. Bergmann, I would not have joined FFA, I would not be at Murray State University, and I would most definitely not be studying Agricultural Education. This very determined woman convinced me that FFA wasn't just a bunch of "farmers" in silly blue jackets, which at first glance is what FFA at my high school seemed to be. Through the decision to join FFA, I was asked to compete in CDE's and also coach some of the CDE teams myself. Through this I learned what it is like to be responsible for more than just myself, and a little piece of what it is like to be an Agriculture teacher. During my senior year I finally had to nail down plans for the future while applying to college. Agricultural Education just seemed to be the right fit for me.

From this one little push, I have already learned so much, and I am well on my way to learning much more!

FFA Week Blog Challenge

• Saturday, Feb 18 – Agricultural Education
• Sunday, Feb. 19 – Service
• Monday, Feb. 20 - Innovation
• Tuesday, Feb. 21 – Integrity
• Wednesday, Feb. 22 – Growth
• Thursday, Feb. 23 – Respect
• Friday, Feb. 24 – Teamwork
• Saturday, Feb. 25 – Transparency