Exploring the History andOrganization of FFA

Learning Targets

• 1. Explain how, when, and why the FFA was organized.

• 2. Explain the mission and strategies, colors, motto, parts of the emblem, and the

• organizational structure of the FFA.• 3. Recite and explain the meaning of the FFA

Creed.• 4. Explain the purpose of a Program of Activities

and its committee structure.

Terms

• Active• Agriculture Education/FFA• Alumni• Leslie Appelgate• Collegiate• Eagle• Ear of Corn• FFA Motto• Henry Groseclose

• Honorary• C. H. Lane• Owl• Carlton Patton• Plow• Program of Activities• Rising sun• Smith-Hughes Act• E. M. Tiffany

Explain how, when, and why the FFA was organized

• Idea came about after courses in vocational agriculture were established by the Smith-Hughes act

• The Smith-Hughes Act, also known as the Vocational Act of 1917, represented the first national approval of vocational education in the public school. Written by Hoke Smith and Dudley Hughes, the act established vocational education in the areas of agriculture, trades and industry, and home economics.

Early 1920’s• Virginia formed the first Future farmers

club for boys

• 1. Henry Groseclose, an agriculture teacher from Blacksburg, Virginia, organized the first Future Farmers of America and is known as the father of the FFA.

• 2. In 1926, the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri, invited students

• to compete in livestock contests.

• The National FFA Organization was established on November 20, 1928 at the Hotel Baltimore in Kansas City, Missouri.

• 1. National dues were 10 cents per member.• 2. The first national advisor was C.H. Lane.• 3. The first national president was Leslie

Appelgate from New Jersey.

New Farmers of America

• NFA was an agricultural organization for African American boys

• Also started in Virginia• Merged with FFA in 1965• NFA.mp4 - YouTube

Welcome Ladies

• Membership was open to girls in 1969.

Explain the mission and strategies, colors, motto, parts of the emblem, and theorganizational structure of the FFA.

What is FFA?• Youth organization within agricultural

education.* It prepares students for leadership,

personal growth and career success.• FFA was created in 1928 as Future Farmers of

America• In 1988 the name was changed to National

FFA organization *Reflect growing diversity

FFA Organization Structure• Three levels 1st Local (Rowan County FFA

member)2nd State (Kentucky FFA member)3rd National (National FFA member)

Local level of the organization

• The FFA has four types of membership:• 1. Active – those enrolled in agricultural classes and

have paid their membership dues.• 2. Alumni – open to former active members,

collegiate, and honorary members, and• other individuals who support the FFA.• 3. Collegiate – belong to FFA chapters at two- or

four-year post secondary institutions• and are enrolled in agricultural courses.• 4. Honorary – given to individuals

Colors

• As the blue field of our nation’s flag and golden fields of ripened corn unify our country, the FFA colors of NATIONAL BLUE and CORN GOLD give unity to the organization.

• All FFA functions and paraphernalia should proudly display the colors

Motto

• Gives members twelve short words to live by as they discover the opportunities available in the organization

Learning to doDoing to learnEarning to liveLiving to serve

Salute

• The pledge of allegiance is the official salute of the FFA.

• Salute should always be used in the official closing ceremony for meetings and other ceremonies.

• Once finished hand should drop to your side and them once again face the president.

RECITE AND EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE FFA CREED.

• The Creed is a basic statement of beliefs and a common bond between new members.

• A. The Creed was written by E.M. Tiffany and adopted at the 3rd National FFA Convention.

• B. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention to reflect changes in FFA membership and the agricultural industry.

The FFA Creed• 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.

• The creed was written by E. M. Tiffany, and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention.

Emblem

Emblem Cont.

• The FFA emblem consist of five symbols.• They are representative of the

history, goals and future• Each element within the emblem has

unique significance.

• 1. A cross-section of an ear of corn which signifies common agricultural interest.

• 2. A rising sun which symbolizes progress in agriculture.• 3. A plow , the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil.• 4. An owl, the symbol of wisdom and knowledge.• 5. An eagle which represents the national scope of the FFA.• 6. The words: Agricultural Education/FFA which signify that FFA is an

important part of the agricultural/agribusiness program.

Official Dresshttp://ffa.org/index.cfm?method=c_students.OfficialDress

Shop FFA - Official Online Store for the National FFA Organization

http://blip.tv/national-ffa-video/ffa-today-march-11-2009-1883766

Officers

President -Rising Sun

• Presides of meetings• Appoint committees and serve as a non-voting

member• Coordinate the activities of the chapter and

evaluate progress• Represent the chapter in public relations and

official functions

Vice President -Plow

• Assume all duties of the president if necessary

• Coordinate all committee work• Work closely with the president and

advisor to asses chapter progress• Establish and maintain a chapter

resource file

Secretary- Ear of Corn• Prepare and post the agenda for each chapter

meeting• Prepare and present the minutes for each

chapter meeting• Place all committee reports in the chapter

secretaries book• Be responsible for chapter attendance and

activity records• Be responsible for chapter correspondence

Treasurer – Emblem of Washington

• Be in charge of chapter money, deposits and transactions

• Present monthly treasure report• Collect dues• Maintain and keep a neat and accurate

treasurers book• Serve as treasurer of the Earnings and Savings

Committee

Reporter - Flag

• Plan public information sessions with newspapers radios to tell the FFA story

• Release news to local and regional newspapers

• Publish a chapter news letter• Serve as chapter photographer

Sentinel – Door

• Assist the president in maintaining order• Inform perspective students and members

about FFA• Instruct students in leadership and personal

development• Keep room and paraphernalia in good order• Welcome guest and visitors

Advisor• Supervise Chapter Activities• Inform perspective students and parents

about FFA• Instruct students in leadership and personal

development• Build school and community support• Encourage involvement in all chapter

activities• Prepare students of CDE’s

Other

• Historian- Scrapbook, record chapter history• Parliamentarian-Be proficient in

parley pro and answer all parley pro questions• Chaplain-Present the invocation at

the chapter banquet

•Lets practice opening ceremonies

Explain the purpose of a Program of Activities and its committee structure

The Program of Activities is divided into three major section

• 1. Student Development Division – activities that provide for leadership, personal growth, and SAE experience.

• 2. Chapter Development Division – focuses on recruitment, finance, public relations, support groups, participation in state and national FFA and other organizational activities.

• 3. Community Development Division – strives to develop economic, environmental and human resources; citizenship; agricultural awareness and literacy; and safety.

Each of the three divisions can be divided into committees

which concentrate their efforts in a single area.

• These committees are responsible for:1. Setting goals for what they want to

accomplish during the year and how they plan to achieve the goals.

2. Reviewing goals to determine which were achieved.

• All chapters can compete in the National Chapter Award Program which rewards chapters for their accomplishments throughout the year.