The Future Farmers of America dodged a financial setback this week after Governor Jerry Brown decided not to cut funding for the program in next year’s budget. “This is really good news,” said Bill Costanzo, who’s helmed Tomales High School’s program for the last 11 years. “All the support that we got in the last week definitely turned things around before it got to be a real critical issue for us.” Gov. Brown’s proposal had called for diverting over $15 million in funds that is given to the F.F.A. and similar vocational training programs in the community college system. Mr. Costanzo said the Tomales chapter receives $10,000 a year from the state, supporting classes in sustainable agricultural biology, soil chemistry and welding and student trips to attend leadership conferences. Last month, he took 14 students to an F.F.A. convention in Fresno. “A big part of F.F.A. is going to these conferences and state conventions, and to see agriculture in other parts of the state,” he said. When he got word that about half of the program’s budget was in jeopardy, he began a letter-writing campaign to the governor and reached out to state Sen. Mike McGuire, who visited the program a few years ago. Last Friday, Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, issued a statement that said the F.F.A. would be spared from the cuts. “Please be assured, Governor Brown remains committed to ongoing funding for these programs funded through the California Department of Education,” she wrote. The announcement was also celebrated by Jim Aschwanden, executive director of the California Agricultural Teachers’ Association, who lobbied in Sacramento to secure the funds. “As far as we’re concerned, the issue has been resolved,” he said. “The last two weeks were pretty horrible but, at end of day, we’re grateful the governor took quick action. The message was received and the governor agreed.”