FREDERICKTOWN — Future Farmers of America activities have become a big part of Ryan Matthews’ life.
The 2017 FFA alum and Fredericktown graduate, spoke in front of a packed crowd at Fredericktown’s Board of Education meeting on Monday about how FFA left an everlasting impact.
“FFA has changed my life,” Matthews said. “It can’t be overstated how it’s impacted me.”
Thirteen people, ranging from parents, alum and current students, spoke at Monday’s meeting advocating for Fredericktown Local Schools to keep Ag classes intact.
FFA enrollment has declined yearly, a Fredericktown Local School press release states.
“A key concern is the clear and sustained trend of declining enrollment in Fredericktown’s Ag program,” the statement reads.
FFA has changed my life
Ryan Matthews
As of April 28, approximately 22 students requested to enroll in the Ag program for the 2025-26 school year, the statement states.
“Show me a program, sport, extracurricular activity or class in the high school that isn’t (losing numbers),” Alum Leroy Frazier said. “More of our students are taking advantage of the programs that the Career Center is offering.
“Our challenges are finding a way to continue the program without depriving any child of the opportunities that Vo-Ag and the FFA provide.”
Of these, 16 are first- or second-year students. The remaining are upperclassmen who are attending the Knox County Career Center or taking college credit plus courses, the release states.
One upperclassman is scheduled to remain on-site at Fredericktown High School next academic year.
“This makes offering upper-level agricultural classes, such as forestry and agricultural business, very challenging,” the statement reads. “These courses are essential for a complete and progressive agricultural education pathway, including the State and American degrees, which carry significant value after high school graduation.”
FFA members can obtain several degrees marking their achievements in the program. The historic program has been in place since 1928.
The Fredericktown chapter has produced over 160 state FFA degrees, Frazier said, including three this year.
“We have produced eight state officers, 37 American degree recipients, 29 of them coming in the last 15 years,” Frazier said.
District plans on revitalizing FFA
District administration sees educational and operational challenges with the state of FFA. Providing specialized upper-level Ag instruction for only one eligible student isn’t sustainable from a staffing or financial perspective, the statement states.
Accommodating students who express interest in the program but are not physically present at Fredericktown High School during the school day adds further complexity.
Speakers at Monday’s board meeting said adding a class before school starts is a potential solution.
District administration wants to “revitalize” agriculture education with relevant course offerings in the evolving agricultural industry we live in today.
Frazier suggested establishing a “zero period” for Ag classes starting at 7 a.m. for any junior or senior.
“The last thing I wanted to suggest to the board is a revision of the curriculum,” Frazier said. “Currently, we are teaching the same four courses we did almost 20 years ago.
“The agriculture and environment career field has expanded exponentially in the past few years. Let’s modernize the classes that we offer.”
After graduating from the University of Akron in 2022, Matthews returned to Knox County to work at Ariel Corporation.
Those experiences learned in FFA, Mathews said, are irreplaceable and helped propel him to where he is today.
Being part of FFA changed how Matthews impacted his community, he said.
“These classes are some of the most important courses these students will go through,” Matthews said. “We should not be looking at reducing it, especially from a legacy program.”
Austin Frazier, a Fredericktown FFA student, echoed Matthews’ remarks saying he wouldn’t be the person he is today without FFA.
While in FFA, Frazier improved in public speaking, giving a speech about how industrial solar could impact Ohio during a FFA competition.
“It helped me find my voice and I am positive it will help more find their voice,” Frazier said.