The FFA and You!

What are the purposes of the FFA?

• Scholarship• Cooperation• Recreation• Service• Thrift

• Improved Agriculture• Leadership• Citizenship• Patriotism• Character

The purpose of the FFA is to develop:

Improved Agriculture• Helps students to understand how life has

been made easier through improvements in agriculture– milking dairy cows

• 400-2000 cows by machine twice / 3 times a day

• 20-40 cows by hand twice a day

– tractors - 1acre field feeds 20 people• by hand 5 farmers with 5 acres = 500 people

• 1 farmer with a tractor 1000 acres = 20,000 people

Leadership

• Ability to influence other people to meet individual or group goals– You need to decide where you want to be

• :LEAD, FOLLOW or GET OUT OF THE WAY

– You have to decide what role is best suited for each situation

– You have to be able to assume all roles or change your role very quickly in some situations

Citizenship

• Being a productive member of society– if you don’t have to be on welfare or food

stamps to survive then DON’T

– When you have your hand out …..

• Are you offering or asking for something

Patriotism

• Loyalty and love for one’s country

• You have to be loyal to what you believe in

• Make decision’s in life and get off the fence

Character

• Morals or values

• What you believe in or stand for

• What kind of person are you?

• How do people look at you?– Are you honest?– Are you a thief?

Scholarship

• Academics– strive to be the best students you can be– work hard and obtain good grades– if you need help with an assignment have the

courage to ask

• Albert Einstein was learning disabled

Cooperation

• The act or practice of cooperating

• To work together towards a common end or purpose

• What happens when people don’t cooperate?

• What happens when they do?

Recreation

• Allows students to have fun with each other– camps, basketball

Service

• Helping others

• Employment in duties or work for another

• Helping other students or community members

• Service with a SMILE….... Whether it’s cleaning floors or being the President of the US

Thrift

• Wise economy in the management of money and other resources– using time wisely

• Wisely economical– thrift stores

Being active in the FFA allows opportunities too...

TRAVEL

HAVE FUN

MEET PEOPLE

The FFA stresses three closely related areas:

LEADERSHIP

PERSONAL GROWTH

CAREER SUCCESS

Describe Leadership?• Ability to influence other people to meet

individual or group goals

• A leader is a person who helps others meet their goals

• With a little practice these traits can be learned by anyone– personal skills– “how to” skills– “thinking” skills– “people”skills

Leaders are not born….

They are EDUCATED

Personal skills

• Traits that make it easy for people to follow the leader

– responsibility– hard working– share responsibility

“How to” skills

• Helps a leader to share responsibility

– organizational skills– organizes meetings– public speaking– written communication

“Thinking” skills

• Enables a leader to think and assess problems

– analyzing situations– anticipate problems– seeing opportunities

“People” skills

• Helps leader relate to others

– trustworthy– respect others– positive attitude– good communication skills

Describe Personal Growth?

• Developing skills to have a good life

• Leadership skills + Career skills = Personal Growth

• Social behavior – manners - help us respect others

• Citizenship skills– obey laws, vote, make your community a good

place to live

How to shake hands: use in saying hello or goodbye, sealing business deals

• 1. Use right hand• 2. Grasp - palm to palm

(don’t squeeze)• 3. Shake don’t pump• 4. Release after a few

seconds• 5. Eye contact• 6. Smile• 7. Speak

Describe Career Success?

• Helps people develop skills to begin and advance in careers

• Recognizes excellence

• Applied through Agricultural Education and SAE to gain practical experience in many areas– some do research others raise animals or crops

Describe and compare the history of the FFA now and then

• It has always been the students first– their needs, interests, and goals

• You have to know where you have been….. to know where you are going

History con’t• 1920’s Future Farmers of America was founded

by Henry Groseclose in rural Virginia

• 1928 1st FFA convention in Kansas City Missouri - 33 delegates

• 1934 all states except Rhode Island had FFA

• 1939 National FFA Camp on land which belonged to George Washington in in Alexandria, Virginia. (The camp later became the National FFA Center.)

History con’t

• 1944 National FFA Foundation was formed to use funds from business and industry to support FFA activities.

• 1950 Public Law 740 was passed by Congress granting the FFA a federal charter.

• 1958 The National Future Farmer magazine was started.

History con’t

• 1965 Consolidation with the New Farmers of America (NFA) strengthened the FFA. (NFA was an organization similar to the FFA for African American students.)

• 1969 Female students were allowed to become members.

• 1971 National FFA Alumni Association was formed.

History con’t

• 1988 Name of the organization was changed to National FFA Organization.

• 1989 Name of The National Future Farmer magazine was changed to New Horizons.

• 1999 National FFA Center moved from Alexandria, VA, to Indianapolis, IN.

• 1999 The National FFA Convention was moved to Louisville, Kentucky.

How do you become a member?

• Kinds of FFA Membership

• 1. Active

• 2. Alumni

• 3. Collegiate

• 4. Honorary

What is active membership?• Students enrolled in agricultural classes in grades 7-

12

• Pay local, State and National Dues $10

• Be interested in FFA

• Attend meetings on a regular basis

• Participate in activities

• 4 categories of active status– Greenhand, Chapter Farmer, State Degree, American

Farmer

Greenhand versus Chapter farmer• Greenhand

– Enrolled in Ag with a plan for an SAE

– Learn Creed, Motto, Salute and Mission

– Explain colors and emblem

– Demo code of ethics and proper jacket use

– history, constitutions and bylaws, POA

– Access to manual and handbook

• Chapter– Received Greenhand

– 180hrs class time

– 3 activities

– earned or invested $150 or worked 45 hours

– Lead a 15 min group discussion

– 5 Parli Pro activities

– progress towards goal

– C average in all classes

Compare other memberships?

• Alumni - former members and others interested in the FFA organization

• Collegiate - students enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college

• Honorary - adults who have been supportive of the FFA, voted on by members

What activities are available with in the FFA?

Something for everyone

Define Career Development Events and Proficiency Awards

• Career Development Events– Allow members to

show the skills learned in the classroom or through SAE’s

– either individual or group competitions

– can earn cash, travel and scholarships

• Proficiency Awards– allows students to

compete for top achievement in a skill area at local, State and National levels

– based on SAE’s

– can earn cash, travel and scholarships

How do I become a good FFA member?

• More than just paying dues• Know about the organization and its impressive

heritage• Be able to:

– State the motto– Explain the colors– Describe the FFA emblem– Explain the official dress– Recite the FFA creed

FFA MottoLearning to DoDoing to LearnEarning to LiveLiving to Serve

Colors of the FFA

• The colors of the FFA are National Blue and Corn Gold. Blue reminds us that the

FFA is a national organization. Gold reminds us that corn is a native American

crop grown in every state.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The FFA emblem was designed with much thought and meaning.

• It is made up of five symbols.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• A cross-section of an ear of corn. The symbol of corn represents our common agricultural interests, is native to America, and is grown in every state.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The eagle. This is symbolic of the national scope of the FFA.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The rising sun. It symbolizes progress in agriculture and the confidence that FFA members have in the future.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The plow. It is a symbol of labor and tillage of the soil.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The owl. It symbolizes wisdom and knowledge.

Symbols of the FFA Emblem

• The words “Agricultural Education“ surround the letters “FFA.” This tells us that FFA is an important part of agriculture and agribusiness programs.

Some Guidelines ForWearing the FFA Jacket

• 1. It should only be worn by FFA members.

• 2. It should always be clean and neat.

• 3. It should only have the names of the state association and local chapter on the back. Individual’s name and office of honor should be on the front.

Some Guidelines ForWearing the FFA Jacket

• 4. It should be worn with the zipper fastened to all official FFA occasions.

• 5. It should not be worn with apparel bearing the insignia of other organizations.

• 6. It should be worn with no more than three medals beneath the individual’s name.

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.

The FFA Creed

• 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 fond-ness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

The FFA Creed

• 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.

The FFA Creed

• 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.

The FFA Creed

• 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.

What are the member responsibilities?

• Learn about the FFA• Participate• Volunteer for committees

and to be an officer• support all members• Participate in leadership

development activities• Have a good SAE• Keep good records

• Take studies seriously• Respect others• Avoid substance that can

harm you• Practice good eating and

sleeping habits• Follow school and

community rules• Strive to develop good

human relation skills• Tell others of FFA

Where to get more information

• http://www.ffa.org

• FFA Student Handbook

• FFA official Manual

• You FFA Advisor

• Older FFA members