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National FFA Organization

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National FFA Organization
Formation1928
TypeYouth organization
Legal statusIntra-Curricular Non-profit organization
PurposeTo make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
HeadquartersU.S. Department of Education Offices of Vocational and Adult Education
Region served
 United States
 Puerto Rico
 United States Virgin Islands
Membership
649,355 (7,859 Chapters in 52 State Associations)
National Advisor
Dr. Steve A. Brown[1]
Chief Executive Officer
Mark Poeschl[2]
National President
David Townsend, Delaware
Websitewww.ffa.org
Formerly called
Future Farmers of America[3]

The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization, specifically a career and technical student organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. It was founded in 1925 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, by agriculture teachers, Henry C. Groseclose, Walter Newman, Edmund Magill and Harry Sanders as Future Farmers of Virginia. In 1928 it became a nationwide organization known as Future Farmers of America. In 1988 the name was changed to the National FFA Organization, now commonly referred to as FFA, to recognize that the organization is for those with diverse interests in the food, fiber and natural resource industries, encompassing science, business and technology in addition to production agriculture.[5] Today FFA is among the largest youth organization in the United States, with 629,366 members in 7,757 chapters[6] throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. FFA is the largest of the career and technical student organizations in U.S. schools.

The organization holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.[7]

Overview

The National FFA Organization is a youth leadership organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education.

FFA functions within the three-circle model of agricultural education as a student leadership organization that complements a student's classroom/laboratory instruction and supervised agricultural experience program.[8] FFA members can compete in Career Development Events (CDE) that cover job skills in everything from communications to mechanics. Some events allow students to compete as individuals, while others allow them to compete in teams.[9] These competitions can happen at a local or district level, state level, and on the national level.

Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults who assist individuals in the development and achievement of educational and career goals.

Official colors of the FFA are known as National Blue and Corn Gold.[10]

FFA structure

United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (3rd from right) stands with five former National FFA Officers in 2011.

FFA is represented at several different levels across the nation; FFA administration may change from state to state. The basic levels are the national level, serving all of the United States of America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; the state level, serving an individual state association; and the chapter level, serving a school or set of schools in an area. By definition, there can be three types of chapters at the secondary level, they are middle for middle school, junior for ninth grade and senior which can be either tenth through twelfth or ninth through twelfth depending on the school. Other levels include districts, subdistricts, sections, regions, areas, and federations.

FFA was created to serve high school students, and has moved into middle schools where membership may begin as early as age 12, allowing members to become active earlier and stay active for longer. Each chapter is chartered as part of the state association and national organization. Collegiate chapters exist as well.

Most states hold FFA conventions at least once annually, where members gather to compete, be recognized for awards, attend leadership workshops, debate organizational issues in a delegate process, and more. Nationally, the National FFA Convention & Expo is held once a year in the fall. It was held in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1928 to 1998. The convention moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1999 before moving again in 2006 to Indianapolis, Indiana. Louisville again hosted the national convention from 2013 to 2015. FFA announced in July 2015 that the national convention would be hosted in Indianapolis each year from 2016 to 2024.[11]

Officers of FFA

As the FFA is a member-led organization intended to serve youth around the nation, it elects officers from its own diverse membership to certain levels of FFA. With these basic constitutional officers a basis of parliamentary procedure is completed during meetings and banquets; each officer during these procedures will stand and recite their office level and what it is stationed by, and why the particular position is stationed as so.Typical officer roles are:

Constitutional officers

  • President — Stationed by the rising sun, a token of a new era in agriculture.
  • Vice President — Stationed by the plow, the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil.
  • Secretary — Stationed by the ear of corn, to keep a record of all meetings and correspond with other secretaries wherever corn is grown and FFA members meet.
  • Treasurer — Stationed by the emblem of George Washington, to keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements just as Washington kept his farm accounts.
  • Reporter — Stationed by the Flag, strives to inform the public in order that every man, woman, and child may know the FFA is a national organization.
  • Sentinel — Stationed by the door, to ensure the door is open to all and keep the meeting room comfortable as well as assist in maintaining order.
  • Advisor — Stationed by the owl, the time honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom

Others may include

  • Parliamentarian — Stationed by a copy of Robert's Rules of Order.
  • Historian — Stationed at the scroll or chapter scrapbook.
  • Student Advisor — Stationed by the owl or the key.
  • Chaplain — Stationed by the Bible or Book.
  • Executive Committee/Executive Board.

Each officer is an agricultural student and holds responsibilities needed to serve, and are elected each year by members at the respective levels.

National officers

  • President - David Townsend, Delaware
  • Secretary - Victoria Harris, Florida
  • Eastern Region Vice President - Ashley Willits, New York
  • Southern Region Vice President - DeShawn Blanding, South Carolina
  • Central Region Vice President - Valerie Earley, Minnesota
  • Western Region Vice President - Trey Elizondo, Texas

This allows officers to be elected to one of the four national regions of the FFA, as well as a President and a Secretary

List of past national presidents

  • 2015-2016 - Taylor McNeel, Arkansas
  • 2014-2015 - Andy Paul, Georgia
  • 2013-2014 - Brian Walsh, Virginia
  • 2012-2013 - Clay Sapp, Florida
  • 2011-2012 - Ryan Best, New Mexico
  • 2010-2011 - Riley Pagett, Oklahoma
  • 2009-2010 - Levy Randolph, California
  • 2008-2009 - Paul Moya, New Mexico
  • 2007-2008 - Zach Kinne, Missouri
  • 2006-2007 - Beau Williamson, California
  • 2005-2006 - Travis Jett, Oklahoma
  • 2004-2005 - Jackie Mundt, Wisconsin
  • 2003-2004 - Javier Moreno, Puerto Rico
  • 2002-2003 - Tim Hammerich, California
  • 2001-2002 - Dane White, California
  • 2000-2001 - Trent McKnight, Texas
  • 1999-2000 - Chris Vitelli, Florida
  • 1998-1999 - Lisa Ahrens, Iowa
  • 1997-1998 - Hillary Smith, Georgia
  • 1996-1997 - Corey Rosenbusch, Texas
  • 1995-1996 - Seth Derner, Nebraska
  • 1994-1995 - Corey Flournoy, Illinois
  • 1993-1994 - Curtis Childers, Texas
  • 1992-1993 - Travis Park, Indiana
  • 1991-1992 - Lee Thurber, Nebraska
  • 1990-1991 - Mark Timm, Indiana

Official FFA dress

Odessa Oldham, of Casper College in Wyoming, explained her role in the National FFA Organization to the United States Department of Agriculture, as part of its Native American Indian Heritage Month celebration in Washington D.C., in November 2011.

FFA jacket

Former FFA emblem in use until February 2015.

The most recognizable symbol of the organization is the blue corduroy FFA jacket that is worn by current FFA members. The back of the jacket features a large FFA emblem just underneath the name of each FFA member's state. The name of the local FFA chapter, district, region or area is embroidered below the emblem. The front of the FFA jacket features a smaller FFA emblem on the left chest and the FFA member's name and sometimes, if applicable, office and year on the right chest. FFA members are required to wear the FFA jacket as part of official dress while participating in all official organization activities.[12]

The FFA jacket was created to be worn by the Fredericktown Band of the Fredericktown FFA Chapter by Dr. Gus Lintner.[13] It was adopted in 1933.

The color of the jacket's corduroy has ranged from shades of blue to shades of purple through the years. In 2004, the National FFA Organization worked with a supplier in North Carolina to set a new standard for the blue corduroy by using samples from archived FFA jackets. The jacket's color standardization was accompanied by a restoration of the embroidered FFA emblems and fit corrections led by Clemson University's Apparel Research Center. The improved FFA jacket, produced in both Van Wert, Ohio and South Vietnam, was first made available in August 2005. Currently, all lettering, embroidery and finishing of FFA jackets is completed by Universal Lettering Company in Van Wert, Ohio.[14]

Elements of FFA official dress

FFA members are required to wear official FFA dress while participating in official organization activities. For females, official dress consists of a black skirt (black slacks may be appropriate for traveling and outdoor activities), a white collared blouse, an official FFA blue scarf, black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe, black nylon hosiery, and an official FFA jacket zipped to the top. Male official dress includes black dress pants, a white dress shirt, an official FFA tie, black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe, black socks and an official FFA jacket zipped to the top.[15]

Awards and pins

FFA members earn metal pins that signify achievement within the organization. These pins can be placed on the front of the FFA jacket,[15] however, official guidelines state that no more than three pins may be worn at one time. The pins are to be placed beneath the FFA member's name on the right chest and can recognize the highest office, highest award, and highest organizational degree. Two exceptions exist within pin placement guidelines. When an FFA member earns a State FFA Degree or American FFA Degree, the award keys should be worn above the name on right chest or attached to the FFA jacket with a standard key chain, and no other pins should accompany these.[15]

Traditions

As an organization, the FFA has many traditions and trademarks identifying it as an agricultural education organization:[16]

The FFA Motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

The FFA Mission: The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.[16]

The Official FFA Colors: National Blue and Corn Gold (worn on the Official FFA jackets).[17]

The FFA Creed: The creed was written by Erwin Milton "E.M." Tiffany of Lyndon, Kansas[18] and adopted at the 3rd National FFA Convention.[18] It was revised at the 38th and 63rd National FFA Conventions by the assembled delegate body. It is recited by new members to the organization to reflect their growing belief in agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA Creed also must be memorized and recited to earn the Greenhand Degree.

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement I cannot deny.
I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so-for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.

Career Development Events

FFA Career Development Event (CDEs) are contests that members compete in to test their skills learned through agricultural education instruction. They vary at the different levels of FFA, and some are contested only at certain levels and certain states, districts, areas or federations.[19]

At the national level, there are 24 Career Development Events:[19]

Wildlife Management

  • Veterinarian Science
  • Quiz Bowl

Others

Examples of CDEs that can be available at the state level are:

  • Small Animal Care
  • Arboriculture
  • Aquaculture
  • Safe Equipment Operation
  • Opening/Closing Ceremonies
  • Wildlife
  • Website Development
  • Entomology
  • Tractor Operations
  • Greenhand CDE
  • F.A.R.M education
  • Envirothon
  • Demonstration

Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs

To be an active member in the National FFA Organization, a member must have an Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project.[20] The projects involve hands-on application of concepts and principles learned in the agricultural education classroom, with guidelines for the SAE projects governed by the state FFA delegation. SAE programs are grouped into four different areas:

  • Exploratory – learning about the 'big picture' of agriculture and related careers
  • Research/Experimentation and Analysis – conducting research or analysis of information to discover new knowledge
  • Ownership/Entrepreneurship – planning and operation of an agriculture-related business
  • Placement – working either for pay or experience in an agricultural setting

Notable alumni

In politics

  • Harold Brubaker, North Carolina state representative, past National FFA Secretary from Pennsylvania
  • Jimmy Carter, Governor of Georgia, 39th President of the United States
  • Matt Lohr, Virginia state representative, past state FFA President and National FFA Vice President
  • Bruce Maloch, Arkansas state senator, past state FFA President and National FFA Secretary
  • Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, past district FFA officer
  • Jeff Miller (Florida politician), United States Representative from Florida, past state FFA Secretary
  • Sam Brownback, Governor of Kansas, past United States Senator & United States representative, past state FFA President and national FFA vice president

In entertainment

In the arts

Other

Notable historic events and milestones

Commemorative Future Farmers of America stamp issued in 1953
Commemorative 25th anniversary Future Farmers of America postage stamp issued on October 13, 1953
  • 1928 FFA is established
  • 1929 National Blue and Corn Gold is adopted as official colors
  • 1930 Official FFA creed adopted
  • 1944 Future Farmers of America Foundation formed
  • 1953 Future Farmers of America U.S. postage stamp issued by U.S. Postal Service
  • 1965 African American New Farmers of America merged with FFA
  • 1969 Girls are allowed to join FFA
  • 1988 Official Name change from Future Farmers of America to FFA Organization
  • 2006 National FFA Foundation receives first $1 million contribution from Ford Motor Company.
  • 2009 FFA celebrates 40 years of women in the organization.
  • 2010 FFA members earn a record 3,449 American FFA Degrees.
  • 2011 National FFA Alumni Association celebrates its 40th anniversary.
  • 2013 Official FFA Jacket celebrates 80th anniversary.
  • 2015 National FFA celebrates 50 years since NFA merged with the FFA.

References

  1. ^ "Our Leadership". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  2. ^ "National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation Name Mark Poeschl Chief Executive Officer". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Who We Are". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  4. ^ "FFA Mission and Motto". National FFA Organization.
  5. ^ "FFA History". National FFA Organization. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Statistics". National FFA Organization.
  7. ^ "36 USC § 70901 – Organization". Federal Charter; Future Farmers of America is a federally chartered corporation. Legal Information Institute; Cornell Law School.
  8. ^ "School-Based Agricultural Education" (PDF). National FFA Organization.
  9. ^ "Career Development Events". National FFA Organization.
  10. ^ http://www.FFA.org
  11. ^ "National FFA Organization Announces National Convention and Expo Coming to Indianapolis 2016-2024". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  12. ^ "FFA Official Dress". National FFA Organization.
  13. ^ Langstaff, Dave. "A Brief History of The FFA Jacket and The People Who Make It". Universal Lettering Company. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  14. ^ "FFA Official Dress PDF" (PDF). National FFA Organization.
  15. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference FFA Official Dress was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ a b 105th U.S. Congress (August 12, 1998). "Public Law 105-225" (PDF). National FFA Organization. p. 6.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "FFA Facts". Code of Ethics, Creed, Emblem, Mission, Motto, Name, Official Colors, Official Dress, Salute. Minnesota FFA Association. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  18. ^ a b "The FFA Creed". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 2010-06-05. It was written in 1928
  19. ^ a b "FFA Career Development Events (CDE)". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  20. ^ "FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)". National FFA Organization. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
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