I’ve been excited to tell the story of the Box Elder High School aviation program since I first learned about it a few years ago. Located in Brigham City, Utah, Box Elder FFA members and other high school students have the unique opportunity to learn about the many ways aviation technology applies to the industry of agriculture. They’re also becoming more acquainted with the latest ag technology.
“Our aviation courses at Box Elder High School are helping open students’ eyes to the possibilities that stand before them, including several careers they often didn’t even know existed,” says Box Elder FFA advisor Jason Bingham. “They get hands-on experience with drones, flight simulators and other high-tech equipment, and many are flying airplanes under supervision and accumulating flight hours.”
As a result, students are realizing a newfound passion for aviation.
“I learned so much about aviation technology and how we can apply it to industries like agriculture,” says Jenny Benitez-Raya, a former Box Elder FFA member who participated in the aviation program and plans to pursue a career in aviation. “For example, I never knew how drones could be used to help improve yields on farms.”
Read more about the Box Elder High School aviation program in “The Sky’s the Limit.”
In this issue, you’ll also find articles about some innovative agriculture educators, the state of food waste in the U.S., the newly chartered North Carolina School for the Deaf FFA Chapter, an Arizona chapter that actively celebrates the contributions of its Hispanic and Latino members, and more.
Enjoy and have a fruitful fall!
-Justin Davey
Editor, FFA New Horizons
