Lesson Notes
FFA Recruitment, Retention &
Program Promotion
Lesson Plan
Purpose: The Purpose of this lesson is to assist future teachers with
recruitment, retention and promotion in their FFA chapters.
Objectives:
Following this lesson, the student will be able to:
1. Describe why the FFA exists;
2. Create and implement recruitment strategies for FFA programs;
3. Implement retention strategies for FFA programs;
4. Evaluate recruitment and retention efforts based upon
effectiveness;
5. Perform program promotion activities;
6. List individuals/groups to target for program promotion; and
7. Combine recruitment, retention and promotion activities with
other chapter activities.
Focus:
Discuss with students how they have been recruited and retained
during their lives (school, consumer goods, employment, etc.).
Discuss some major promotional campaigns they may be familiar
with (Got Milk?, Just Do It, “Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner.”)
Are recruitment, retention and promotion worth doing?
Power
Point
Slides
Lesson Content:
I. Reasons for the Existence of the FFA:
A. Psychological
B. Educational
C. Legal/Policy
D. Philosophical
II. Student Recruitment:
A. A Total/Balanced Program:
1. Draws and services the greatest number of students.
2. Describe to students the different opportunities available.
3. This type of program does much of its own recruiting
B. Utilizing the FFA Student Handbook & Teacher’s Guide:
1. Student guide and official handbook are both great resources.
2. The FFA is intracurricular and therefore can be legally taught
in the classroom.
3. The teacher’s guide has pre-developed lessons. Power
Point
C. Strategies & Resources:
Slides
1. Agriscience Teacher’s Manual: pg. 20-3
2. FFA Guide to Recruitment & Retention Ag.
3. FFA Programs: PALS, Food for America Teacher’s
4. Getting people involved Manual
5. Memorabilia: Posters, T-shirts, Stickers, etc.
6. Officer visits to jr. high/elementary
7. Summer Recruitment
8. Student Recognition
9. Teaching jr. high courses in agriculture
10.Videos (National FFA recruitment videos)
11.www.ffa.org
12.An active & high quality program!
III. Student Retention:
A. A Total/Balanced Program:
1. Offer opportunities for ALL of your students!
B. Strategies:
1. Almost all of the things you do for recruitment and to maintain
a quality program will retain students!
2. Avoid favoritism and side taking (treat everyone the same).
3. Get families & community involved. Let everyone know what
you are doing.
4. Be seen as a premiere program in your school.
5. Treat your students well! (Recognition, Be a good person)
6. BE BIG!
C. Ideas From The Class:
Ag.
IV. Promotion of your FFA Chapter:
Teacher’s
A. Marketing Your Program: Manual
1. Tips page, Ag. Teacher’s Manual, pg. 20-2
2. Inject 5cc of the FFA into everyone; some may need to be
soaked in it! Involve everyone in everything you do:
a) Invite all teachers, staff, and administration to all events
b) Include business and community members in events
c) Always involve parents
d) Have an active advisory committee
3. Promote all of your meetings, events, awards, winnings, etc.
through all available media.
a) Signage in the school is especially important.
b) Morning announcements.
4. Create a Hall/Wall of Fame.
5. Highlight your program at a local storefront.
6. Your banquet is very important.
a) Give awards to those who help your program.
7. Host field days, work days, community service, camps, etc.
8. Parents’ nights before district LDE competitions.
9. Make sure EVERYTHING is clean and presentable.
10.Have signage entering your community.
11.Others?
V. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel!
A. There is no need to make recruitment, retention and marketing
separate efforts! Make every effort to recruit, retain and market in
everything that you do!
VI. Review:
Guided Practice:
Buzz session: Break class into 4 groups using Ninja, Gorilla, and Cowboy
Game. Have each group develop 2 recruitment, retention and marketing
strategies not discussed. Encourage creativity! Have the groups nominate a
reporter who will report their ideas back to the remainder of the class.
Independent Practice:
None Specified