FFA Traditions

FFA Mission Statement FFA Vision Motto Salute The Jacket and Official Dress FFA Responsibilities and Code of

Ethics FFA Creed

FFA Mission

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

FFA Vision

The National FFA Organization envisions a future in which all agricultural students will discover their passion in life and build on that insight to chart the course for their educational, career, and personal future.

FFA Motto

Learning To Do Doing to Learn Earning to Live Living to Serve

FFA Colors

“As the blue field represents our nation’s flag and the 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”

Salute

The Pledge of Allegiance is the official salute of the FFA Organization. To properly conduct the salute, face the United States flag, place the right hand over the left part of the chest, and holding it there, repeat the pledge.

NOTE: Repeat the pledge as it is punctuated. There is no comma or pause following the word “nation”

Salute

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

FFA Official Dress

The uniform worn by FFA members at local, state, and national functions is called Official Dress.

It provides identity and gives distinctive and recognizable image to the organization and its members.

Official Dress has been worn with pride by millions of FFA members since 1933.

OD for Female Members

Black skirt White Collared Blouse Official FFA Blue Scarf Black Shoes with closed heel and toe Black nylon hosiery Official FFA Jacket zipped to the top The skirt is to be at least knee length,

hemmed evenly across the bottom, with a slit no longer than two inches above the knee. Black slacks may be appropriate.

OD for Male Members

Black slacks White collared shirt Official FFA Tie Black dress shoes Black socks An official FFA Jacket zipped to the

top

History of OD

The official FFA jacket was established by the delegates at the 1933 National Convention.

FFA Official Dress standards were created by the delegates at the 1973 National Convention and most recently revised by the delegates at the 2002 National FFA Convention.

Proper Use of the Jacket

The jacket is to be worn only by members

The jacket should be kept clean and neat

The back of the jacket should have only: A large official emblem The name of the state association

(Wisconsin) Name of the local chapter

The Jacket

The Front of the jacket should only have A small official emblem The name of the individual One office or honor The year of that office or honor

The jacket should be worn only on official occasions with the zipper fastened to the top.

The collar should be turned down and the cuffs buttoned.

The Jacket

The jacket should be worn by members and officers on all official FFA occasions as well as other occasions where the chapter or state association is represented.

It may be worn to school and other appropriate places.

The jacket should only be worn to places that are appropriate for members to visit

The Jacket

School letters and insignia of other organizations should not be attached or worn on the jacket.

When the jacket becomes faded and worn, it should be discarded or the emblems and lettering removed.

The emblems and lettering should be removed if the jacket is given or sold to a non-member

The Jacket

A member should act professionally when wearing the official FFA jacket

Members should refrain from use of tobacco and alcohol when underage and at all times when representing the FFA. In addition, members should exhibit their leadership qualities when they encounter substances including tobacco and alcohol and serve to discourage others from inappropriate behavior.

The Jacket

All chapter degree, officer, and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket, with the exception that a single American FFA Degree key should be worn above the name or attached to a standard key chain.

The Jacket

No more than 3medals should be worn on the jacket.

These should represent: 1 The highest degree earned 2. The highest office held 3. The highest award earned by the

member

Responsibilities of Members For a chapter to operate effectively,

each member must play an active role. FFA is truly an organization of, by, and

for its members. Members decide and direct the

activities of their own chapter; they hold positions of leadership and conduct all activities.

The success or failure of a chapter rests with its membership.

Each member must…

Each member is charged with the responsibility of upholding the ideals and principles of the organization, as well as participating in all chapter activities.

FFA Degrees

The FFA is structured into a degree program which rewards active FFA members for progress in all phases of leadership, skill, and development (#18)

The Exploratory, Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter Degrees are awarded at the chapter level.

The State Degree is awarded at the state level.

The American Degree is a national award.

The Discovery Degree

To be eligible, members must… 1. Be enrolled in an ag ed class for at

least a portion of the school year while in grades 7-8.

2. Have become a dues-paying member.

3. Participate in at least one local FFA Activity

4. Have knowledge of ag-related opportunities

Greenhand Degree

1. Be enrolled in an ag ed course and have plans for an SAE

2. Learn and explain the FFA Creed, Motto, Salute, and Mission Statement

3. Describe and explain the meaning of the emblem and colors

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the FFA Code of Ethics and proper use of the FFA jacket

Greenhand (cont)

5. Demonstrate a knowledge of the history of the organization, the chapter constitution and bylaws, and chapter POA.

6. Personally own or have access ot the Official FFA Manual and FFA Student Handbook.

7. Submit a written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree

Chapter Degree

1. Receive the Greenhand Degree 2. Complete at least 180 hours of high

school instruction in ag ed above or at the 9th grade level.

3. Have participated in the planning and conducting of at least three official functions in the Chapter POA.

4. Have earned/invested $150 by the member’s own efforts or worked at least 45 hours outside of class time, or a combination of the two. Have plans for continued growth and improvement in an SAE.

Chapter Degree (Cont)

5. have effectively led a group discussion for 15 minutes or more.

6. Have demonstrated 5 procedures of parliamentary law.

7. Show progress toward individual achievement in the FFA Award Programs.

8. Have a satisfactory scholastic record. 9. Submit a written application for the

Chapter FFA Degree.

State FFA Degree

1. Have received the chapter degree. 2. Have been an active FFA member

for at least two years (24 mo’s) at the time of receiving the State FFA Degree

3. Have completed the equivalent two years or 360 hours of school instruction in ag ed at or above the 9th grade level.

4. Have earned/invested $1000 or worked 300 hours in an SAE.

State Degree

5. Demonstrate leadership by Performing 10 procedures in Parli Pro Give a six minute speech on a topic relating to

ag. Serve as an officer or chairperson in the

chapter 6. Have a satsifactory scholastic record

as certified by the school. 7. Have participated in the planning of

the Chapter POA 8. Have participated in at least 5 different

official activities above the chapter level.

American FFA Degree

1. Have received the State FFA Degree, have been an active member for 36 months, and have a record of satisfactory participation at the state and chapter level.

2. Have completed 540 hours in ag edand/or 360 hours in ag ed and one year of instruction in a post-secondary institution ag ed program.

3. Have graduated from high school at least 12 months prior

American FFA Degree

4. Have operated and maintained an outstanding SAE

5. Have earned $7500 and/or earned/invested $1500 and worked 2250 hours in an SAE

6. Have an outstanding record of scholastic achievement with a final GPA at or above a C

7. Have been a valuable member of the chapter, organization, and community as certified by members of each.

FFA Notable Events and People The National FFA Organization is the

largest student-run organization in the United States.

There are FFA Chapters in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico.

How did the FFA become such a large, influential organization?

1917

President Woodrow Wilson signs into law the Smith Hughes Act , establishing Agricultural Education as a high school subject.

This allows state and federal funding to be used to support vocational education to prepare students for future careers.

1925

Henry Groseclose, an instructor at Virginia Tech, creates the Future Farmers of Virginia

The FFV becomes the basis on which the FFA is created

1928

At a meeting in Kansas City, MO, the FFA is created.

The first National FFA Convention is held; 33 delegates from 18 states attend.

1930

The FFA Creed, written by E.M. Tiffany of UW-Madison, is adopted at the 3rd National FFA Convention

Also at this convention, membership is restricted to only male students. Females would not be admitted into the FFA until 1969.

1933

The iconic blue corduroy jacket is officially adopted as the FFA Jacket.

This jacket has remained largely unchanged and serves as the official “uniform” of FFA members, representing unwavering commitment to key principles and ideals.

A group of FFA Members are also greeted on the White House lawn by President Roosevelt.

1935

New Farmers of America is established in Tuskegee, AL. This was the African-American version of the FFA. This was necessary because school

segregation was still legal NFA would remain in existence until

1965 when it was merged with the FFA after Brown v. Board of Education

1939

A National FFA Camp is established on what was once George Washington’s property.

In 1948, FFA Week would be first recognized during the last week of February. This week was chosen in honor of George

Washington’s birthday In 1959, this would become the site of

the first National FFA Center This is now located in Indianapolis, IN

1953

President Eisenhower becomes the first of many US Presidents to speak at the National FFA Convention Later, Presidents Truman, Nixon, Ford,

Carter, Bush, and George W. Bush would also speak at the National FFA Convention

1988

Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization to better reflect the expanded agricultural opportunities encompassing science, business and technology, in addition to production farming.

Today, over 90% of FFA members have a non-farm background. 73% of FFA members are from suburban or urban backgrounds.

1991

FFA establishes chapters in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Micronesia

In 1998, Jose Santiago would serve as the first National FFA President born outside the 50 US States. Santiago was from Puerto Rico

2012 Organization Name: The National FFA Organization

Number of Chapters: 7,487 in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

2012 FFA Membership:523,309

2009 National FFA Convention Attendance: 53,473

38% of FFA members are female; women hold more than 50% of state leadership positions

FFA chapters are in 16 of the 20 largest cities, including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia

Over 3,000 sponsors provided more than $14 million for FFA and agriculture programs and activities in 2009, including 1,801 individual scholarships worth approximately $2.2 million.

Through 23 national career development events and one activity, FFA members are challenged to real-life, hands on tests of skills used to prepare them for more than 300 agricultural careers

Collectively, FFA members earn more than $4 billion annually through their hands-on work experience

Members participate and learn advanced career skills in 51 national proficiency areas based on their hands-on work experience ranging from food science and technology to agricultural communications to wildlife management to production agriculture

The shortage of agriculture teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agricultural education (Source: www.ffa.org)

Wisconsin “Firsts”

1930 – E.M. Tiffany’s FFA Creed officially adopted

1979 – First Extemporaneous Speaking Competition; Winner – Christe Peterson, WI

2001- First National Star in Agriscience, Steven Offer, WI

2002 – First Female Star Farmer – Karlene Lindow, WI