We seem to forget about the things that work in America. Or at least we quit paying for them.

Future Farmers of America is one of those proven values. Anyone who has judged an FFA public speaking contest has seen the remarkable poise that FFA gives its students. Anyone who has seen FFA kids with animals at county fairs has been impressed with their mastery of animal husbandry.

Kathleen Ellyn’s story in this issue describes the legislative drive to restore state funding to FFA. Since 2011, FFA programs have been kept alive by private fund-raising.

Our two legislators – Sen. Bill Hansell of Pendleton and Rep. Greg Baretto of Cove – are doing yeoman’s work in pushing the funding legislation. As Ellyn’s reporting indicates, urban legislators are the bill’s co-sponsors.

It is not easy sledding in Salem. There will be program cuts. But we must always remember that some programs will be funded. It may as well be ours.

Legislators continuously debate whether certain programs are effective. By that measure, the Hansell-Baretto bill holds a high card. FFA works. Let’s fund it.