There's a problem with Weber High School's FFA program — and no one knows what to do about it

By Corryn La Rue

Weber High School’s FFA program implemented a new agriculture systems and technology class, which will be taught by Dave Shaffer. The school also gained a new teacher, Utah State University's graduate, Cassie Joiner.

The high school’s welding class had previously been taught by a non-agriculture teacher, and was not part of the FFA program in years before.

“Our old welding teacher left. He was not an agriculture teacher,” said Jarvis Pace, an FFA adviser for Weber High School. “But Dave was an agriculture science ​teacher, and he had an interest in welding and agriculture mechanics, so when he applied for the open position, he got it."

Because Shaffer is an agriculture teacher, the welding program is now part of the school’s FFA program. Shaffer said the new class has helped FFA's membership.

“One of the biggest changes we are bringing in is our addition of the agriculture systems and technologies class this year,” Shaffer said. “It’s brand new to the high school, and has increased our membership numbers.”

Joiner graduated from Utah State University with a major in agriculture education in May.

“I was supposed to teach under Dave Shaffer, but then when our original welding teacher quit there was a shift in positions so there was an opening, and the school just ended up hiring me,” Joiner said. “So I kind of did my student teaching by myself. It was like baptism by fire.”