SCIO - The forestry and FFA programs at Scio High School may be scaled back next year if the legislature goes ahead and axes an agency that oversees the programs statewide.

The forestry program at Philomath High School also would be affected.

The Student Leadership Development Center in Salem manages the two programs along with others such as DECA and FBLA, said Mike Stebbins, a spokesman for the agency. This year's $700,000 agency budget was down 10 percent from the previous year, he said.

"If SLDC disappears, then programs such as Future Farmers of America and forestry that are funded by the state will have to come up with their own funding," Stebbins said. That could be private money and/or corporate funding, which is harder to get in tough economic times, he said.

Stebbins urged anyone with an interest in keeping forestry and FFA in Oregon schools to lobby their state legislators and the Joint Ways & Means Committee.

Area legislators representing the Scio area are Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, (503) 986-1417, and Sen. Fred Girod, (503) 986-1709. The Ways & Means number is (503) 986-1828.

Stebbins said there are seven Forestry programs in the state and 103 FFA groups.

Without state money, students in the programs might not be able to exhibit at the Oregon State Fair, among other things, he said.

Dave Bonebrake teaches agriculture, science and technology at Scio High School.

He said that those enrolled in FFA and forestry in Scio learn technical skills in the classroom and take part in mechanical and forestry competitions. They are taught job skills, perform speeches in class, and learn about sales procedures as well as gain life skills.

The National FFA organization was founded in 1928 and currently has 507,763 members, according to the FFA website. FFA prepares students for roles in leadership, encourages personal growth and provides opportunities for career success.

More than 300 career opportunities are incorporated into FFA programs, including food, fiber and natural resources.

For more information about FFA at Scio High School contact Bonebrake, and for Forestry call Rex Lowther. Both can be reached at (503) 394-3276.