Farming isn’t what it used to be.

While it does include the traditional fields of crops, there are also areas of animal science, chemistry, horticulture and technology.

That’s the message Ag instructors and students in Beaufort County are trying to get across as part of National FFA (Future Farmers of America) Week, which runs Feb. 20-27, always the week of George Washington’s birthday.

Eric Godwin, Ag teacher and FFA advisor at Washington High School, said there were events going on for the school all week to celebrate, including a boat ramp cleanup at Havens Gardens on Sunday, an evening bonfire, a Career Day on Thursday and a chance to plant long leaf pines at Goose Creek State Park on Saturday.

“North Carolina’s No. 1 industry is agriculture,” Godwin said. “Basically any kind of exposure they can get, even if it’s just something simple for FFA Week. … You know, I think that’s something, if they can just learn something.”

Godwin said he wants his Ag students to realize all they can do with a career in agriculture and learn how to become leaders through the program, but he also wants to spread the word to the other students, as well.

“It’s about development, leadership and teamwork, and being able to socialize with your peers,” Godwin said. “We’re trying to impact our community and also celebrate and do things like that.”

Northside High School is also in on the action, according to Ag teacher and FFA advisor Amanda Watkins.

She said each day this week has a different theme relating to agriculture, including Thursday’s Boot Day, in which students are encouraged to wear boots to school.

Watkins said there is also a fact about agriculture on the morning announcements each day at the school; Wednesday’s fact told of how the FFA changed its name to the National FFA Organization in 1988 because of its service to other agricultural fields besides farming.

“Obviously agriculture is the backbone of our nation, our economy. You know, we would be nowhere without agriculture,” Watkins said.

She said Northside usually has some type of FFA forum during this week, but organizers decided to hold off on that because of a record of bad weather. There was no snow this week, but winter weather was replaced with damaging storms, Watkins chuckled.

Even so, she said she hopes the students at Northside will come away from this week knowing more about agriculture and its overall importance. Godwin said he feels the same way.

“I think that’s a recurring theme among FFA advisors. It’s about leadership,” Watkins said. “We know that, but it’s great when other people can be introduced to that.”