When Merced's FFA program was split and divided between Merced High School and Golden Valley High School last school year, some educators thought numbers would dwindle at Merced High because of its inner-city student base.

That's not the case, the Merced High FFA adviser Steven Mua told me in an interview this week.

The Merced County Times is going to be publishing a special section soon dedicated to Merced's FFA efforts. We are going to tell you about how the programs have grown and what the future holds for them. We are also going to spotlight the students and their projects.

Says Mua: "When we left East Campus we only had 95 students in the program from Merced. Golden Valley had 200-plus students Last year our numbers rose to 215. And this year there's 330."

What gives?

Mua said he came to Merced High with one assistant and brought in another one this year and increased FFA activities on campus and fundraising.

"We probably have the biggest fundraising club on campus and we do a lot of activities like Farm Day on campus," Mua said.

Last year FFA fundraising brought in $25,000, and according to Mua, all that money went back to the kids --- for things like FFA jackets, conventions and field trips.

"We try to show these city kids that when they take an ag class they are not learning about agriculture as they think. My job is not to teach them how to be a farmer. A lot of students and parents think FFA stands for Future Farmers of America. That idea has been gone out the door a long time ago. Our job is to let the students understand how important ag is as an industry and in our daily lives. We need ag. If we have to fight for it here in the valley, then they need to understand what we are fighting for. "

LANCE ARMSTRONG COMING TO TOWN.
Amgen's Tour of California will be roaring into Merced on Wednesday ... and you all have probably heard old Lance Armstrong is going to among the top riders.

Want to get up close to the legend.

You may want to start by reading Beverly Barela's article featured on this week's home page.

We also have a map guide in this week's paper. Pick one up to see the route through Merced and pick your spot to see the race.