Long, hot dry summers cause irrigation systems to run non-stop. Agriculture is the foundation on which Georgia's history was built.

But, it is also the key to our state's future.

That is why it is important that during National Agriculture Week (March 19-23), we take the time to reflect on the importance and impact of Agriculture Education in Georgia.

In education circles today, there is a lot of talk about the new "Three R's" - Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. Students must be engaged in rigorous work that has relevance in today's society. They also must build relationships that connect them to the school community.

Georgia's agriculture education programs are leading the way in providing a rigorous and relevant education. Our agriculture programs are math and science in action!

Whether a student is studying agriscience, farm business management, agriculture mechanics, or some other field; our agriculture students are engaged every day in challenging courses with realworld application.

These students are also building strong relationships with the community and other students - most notably through organizations like the Georgia FFA Association. Through FFA, we are not only preparing Georgia's next generation of agriculture experts, we are building solid citizens who will contribute to society for generations to come.

The rigor, relevance and relationships infused in our agriculture education programs are yielding another "R" - results. Agriculture education students are outscoring the rest of the state on our curriculum tests, especially in science. Consider that two years ago, about 68 percent of our students passed the Georgia High School Graduation Test in science. However, the pass rate jumped to about 84 percent among students who were fully engaged in agriculture education programs.

Our Governor, our legislators and our State Board of Education members all know the importance of agriculture education and continue to provide the necessary funds. But, these programs could use your support too.

So take the time this week to encourage our agriculture education students and say "thank you" to their teachers. And while you are at it, ask them how you can help secure the future of Georgia by supporting Agriculture education.