Introduction to the FFA

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Introduction to the FFA

• By David Agnew
• Arkansas State University

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What would you say?

• Suppose you are approached by a local radio or TV
  personality at the county fair and that person
  sticks a microphone in your face and they says
  so what is this organization you are with called
  the FFA?
• Would you know what to say?
• Do you know how to say it in a clear concise
  statement?
• Would your students know how to respond?

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Just The Facts

• The FFA is a national organization for students
  aged 12-21, who are enrolled in secondary
  agriculture education programs.
• With over 450,000 students in public schools
  across the nation, it is the largest student
  organization in the U.S.
• There are over 7,300 chapters in all 50 states,
  including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• The FFA promotes scholarship, develops
  leadership, and helps students develop career and
  life skills

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Background Facts

• National Headquarters are in Indianapolis
  Indiana.
• The national advisor is Larry Case.
• Members pay dues
• National convention each year (currently
  Louisville KY)
• Local chapters have advisors who are teachers
• The organization was founded in 1928.

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Objectives

• State the mission and purposes of the FFA
  organization and Agricultural Education.
• Describe how the FFA is an integral part of a
  secondary Agricultural Education.
• Identify the key historical events associated
  with the FFA.
• Describe the organization and operation of the
  National FFA Organization.
• 5 Describe the organization and operation of
  the FFA in Arkansas.

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Objective 1

• State the mission and purposes of the FFA
  organization and Agricultural Education.

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The Mission of the National FFA Organization

• FFA Mission
• The National FFA Organization is dedicated to
  making a positive difference in the lives of
  young people by developing their potential for
  premier leadership,
  personal growth and career success through
  agricultural education

Source National FFA website
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The Mission of Agricultural Education

• Agricultural Education prepares students for
  successful careers and a lifetime of
  informed choices in the global agriculture, food,
  fiber and natural resources systems.

Source National FFA website
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The Missions

• FFA
• The National FFAOrganization is dedicated to
  making a positive difference in the lives of
  young people by developing their potential for
  premier leadership, personal growth and career
  success through agricultural education

• Agricultural Education
• Agricultural Education prepares students for
  successful careers and a lifetime of informed
  choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber
  and natural resources systems.

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Purposes of the FFA

• Develop members leadership abilities
• Develop members ability to work with others
• Prepare members for professional and technical
  leadership roles
• Develop communication skills
• Help develop civic responsibility (Citizenship)
• Develop an understanding of group processes
• Develop ability in leading group activities
• Promote scholarship, excellence in learning.

Source The FFA Manual
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The FFA MottoA Statement of Purpose

• The FFA motto gives members twelve short words to
  live by as they experience the opportunities in
  the organization.
• Learning to Do
• Doing to Learn,
• Earning to Live,
• Living to Serve

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Objective 2

• Describe how the FFA is an integral part of the
  secondary Agricultural Education curriculum.

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Definitions

• Integral -- Essential or necessary for
  completeness.
• Intracurricular -- A part of the regular
  curriculum of a school or college program.
• Extracurricular -- Being outside the regular
  curriculum of a school or college program.

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The FFA is both Integral and Intracurricular

• The FFA was an outgrowth of the Secondary
  Agriculture curriculum/program.
• The FFA promotes and rewards the learning of the
  curriculum content.
• The FFA brings leadership into the mainstream of
  the curriculum.
• The FFA encourages application of content through
  career development events and supervised
  agricultural experience programs.

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Official Intracurricular Public Law 740

• In 1950, the 81st Congress recognizing the
  importance of the FFA granted the FFA a federal
  charter, making it an integral, intracurricular
  part of public agricultural instruction under the
  National Vocational Education Acts. Two of the
  FFA top three executives are employed by the U.S.
  Department of Education.
• Official recognition of FFA as being
  intercurriculum gave greater opportunity for FFA
  advisors and members to include or participate in
  leadership activities, contests, and off campus
  events without conflict of purpose with the rest
  of the educational community.

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Public Law 105-225

• In 1998, the 105th Congress of the United States
  reviewed and passed technical amendments. This
  shows through the revisions as Public Law 105-225.

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Objective 3

• Identify the key historical events associated
  with the FFA.

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The Beginning of the Future Farmers of America

• The National Organization was established in 1928
  at the Hotel Baltimore in Kansas City, Missouri.
• The first national convention had 33 delegates
  from 7 states. Annual dues were set at 10 cents
  per member.

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More FFA History.

• 1929  The official colorsnational blue and corn
  goldare adopted. They are still used
  today.1930 At the 3rd National FFA Convention,
  the membership issue is clarified when the
  all-member, male delegation amend the
  constitution restricting membership to boys only
  under Article III, Section B. The official creed
  is adopted.1933 Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA
  members arrive at the national convention in
  crisp, blue corduroy jackets with the FFA emblem
  on the back. Official delegates vote to adopt the
  jacket as the organizations official dress.
  Members still wear the nationally-recognized
  jackets today, honoring the tradition and history
  of FFA.  More than 50,000 are manufactured each
  year.

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More FFA History.2

• 1935 New Farmers of America (NFA), an
  organization for African-American boys interested
  in agriculture, is formed and eventually includes
  13 states. It is patterned after the New Farmers
  of Virginia formed in 1927. 
• 1944 The National FFA Foundation, Inc., was
  established in Washington, D.C., to raise money
  for FFA programs and activities from business,
  industry, government, individuals and foundation
  sponsors. Today, the Foundation is located in
  Indianapolis, In., and raises more than 7.3
  million annually.
• 1950 The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 81-740,
  which grants the FFA a Federal Charter and
  stipulates that a U.S. Department of Education
  staff member be the national FFA advisor.
• 1953 FFA celebrates its silver anniversary.  
• The U.S. Post Office issues a special stamp
  to
• commemorate the founding of the FFA.

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More FFA History.3

• 1959 The FFA headquarters is established in
  Alexandria, Va., on land which was part of George
  Washingtons estate.

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More FFA History.

• 1965 The New Farmers of America (NFA), the
  organization for African-American agricultural
  education students, merges with the FFA, adding
  50,000 members.
• 1966 The FFA National Agricultural Career Show,
  a trade show especially for students, exposes
  national convention attendees to educational and
  career opportunities in agriculture.

• 1969 Women are allowed national membership,
  which made it possible for them to hold office
  and participate in competitive events at the
  regional and national level.

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More FFA History.4

• 1971 The National FFA Alumni Association is
  founded, providing opportunities for former FFA
  members and other supporters to become involved
  with their local student chapters.
• 1988 Delegates to the national FFA convention
  change Future Farmers of America to the
  National FFA Organization.
• 1998 The national convention was held in Kansas
  City for the last time. And the National FFA
  Center was moved from Alexandria, Va., to
  Indianapolis, In.
• 1999 The national FFA convention is held in
  Louisville, Ky., for the first time and will stay
  in Louisville through 2005.

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More FFA History.5

• 2000 FFA continues to expand opportunities for
  agricultural career preparation by introducing
  one new career development event and two
  demonstration events. The National FFA Archives,
  located at IUPUI in Indianapolis, officially
  opens.

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Objective 4

• Describe the organization and operation of
  the National FFA Organization

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Who is the national FFA advisor?

• Larry Case

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Organization and Operation of the FFA

• FFA 450,00 members in 7300 chapters (36 are
  female 47 hold state leadership positions
• Members pay annual dues
• There is a national advisor (Larry Case from
  Missouri)
• There is a national constitution which provides
  structure in the operation of the organization.
• The National FFA Board directs operations of the
  organization.
• A team of student officers also play a role in
  management of the organization. Officers
  includes President, Secretary, Treasurer,
  Reporter, and Sentinel, with a V. President from
  each of the four regions.
• States apply for charter to form a state
  association.
• States have their own constitution which does not
  conflict with the national.

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(No Transcript)
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Four FFA Regions
Central
Eastern
Western Region
Southern
WesternGuam
Southern Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Location of National FFA Headquarters
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National FFA HeadquartersIndianapolis Indiana
1998
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Organization and Operationof the FFA 2

• Parliamentary Procedure as referenced by Roberts
  Rules or Order is the way that business is
  conducted.
• Members have an official manual to give them
  direction and guidance.
• Official Colors
• Official Jacket
• Official Emblem
• Official Creed for members
• National Convention (October)
• National FFA Week (February)

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Quick Note on Membership

• 4 Types of Members
• Active Traditional H.S. Student enrolled in Ag.
  
• Honorary
• Alumni
• Collegiate
• (ASU has a chapter)

• 5 Degrees of Members
• Greenhand
• Chapter
• State
• American
• (Discoveryfor Jr. H.S.)

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Objective 5

• Describe the organization and operation of the
  FFA in Arkansas.

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Arkansas FFA

• Arkansas was the second state association
  chartered in 1928.
• The first Star Farmer ever, Mr. Carlton Patton,
  was from Arkansas.
• Arkansas has over 11,000 members in 250 chapters.

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State Advisor and State officers

• Marion Fletcher is the Program Manager
  
  State FFA Advisor for Arkansas.
• There are four vice presidents, one from each
  district. Then there is a president, secretary,
  treasure, reporter and sentinel.
• Each district has its own set of officers.

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Arkansas is Divided Into Four Districts
NortheastDistrict
Northwest District
4-H CampFerndale
ASU-Jonesboro
ASU Beebe
NE District Leadership and Skills CDE
FFA Camp Couchdale
State Department Office in LR
SoutheastDistrict
SouthwestDistrict
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Professional Journal

• The Journal of Agricultural Education is a
  research based publication for university
  agricultural educators.

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FFA Camp and Convention

• Annual Convention is every June at Camp
  Couchdale, near Hot Springs.

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The End
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Professional Journal

• The Agricultural Education Magazine
• designed for practitioners in the field
• six issues per year
• cost 10
• each issue addresses a theme