Kindness and compassion go a long way. This much was plainly evident when Waupaca FFA in Wisconsin created an Adaptive Agriculture course to bring cognitive disability borderline/severe (CDB/S) students into a classroom setting to 
nurture their academic, social and personal successes.
An agriscience teacher created a class with the assistance of two CDB/S instructors, two aides and 20 Waupaca FFA members, who provided one-on-one instruction to 16 CDB/S students. A curriculum and a syllabus were developed using fourth-grade state agricultural education science and math standards. FFA members assisted students with reading, sign language and math, and 12 interactive activities were used to enhance the students’ problem-solving and sequential skills.
When the program was completed, the CDB/S students were tested and evaluated, and the CDB/S teachers reported a 10 percent increase in their abilities. Waupaca FFA members gained a great deal of appreciation for these hard-working students and were proud to be involved with such a meaningful program.
Waupaca FFA was a finalist in the 2010 National Chapter Models of Innovation awards program in the area of Student Development.
Great to read about youth programs and agriculture! Keep up the dedication Waupaca FFA and teachers around the globe!