North Dakota FFA membership now exceeds 7,500 students with 96 chapters statewide. Two previously inactive programs in Devils Lake and Underwood are expected to recharter next year. While participation remains strong in the North Dakota FFA program, State FFA Advisor Nikki Fideldy-Doll said the shortage of agriculture teachers remains a major concern. “One limitation that we are seeing with growth is that we can’t keep teachers,” she said. “Without a good ag teacher, there is no program.” Agricultural education is built around classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experiences and FFA activities. Fideldy-Doll compares the model to a layered cake. “A student needs a bite of all three layers,” said Fideldy-Doll. “However, you don’t have any of those layers unless you have the baker, and the baker’s the ag teacher.”
