The FFA Creed

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The FFA Creed

• Alysa Sanford
• Topic 0004

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What is a creed?

• Many have compared what the creed is to the FFA,
  to what the Pledge of Allegiance is to United
  State of America.
• Creed A set of fundamental beliefs or guiding
  principles (Merriam Webster OnLine)

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History

• Written by E. M. Tiffany.
• Adopted at the 3rd National FFA Convention.
• Revised at the 38th and 63rd conventions.
• Changes in FFA membership
• Changes in the Agricultural Industry

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The Creed

• Can best be learned in five separate parts.
• Several key terms highlighted in red.
• Read with conviction and pride

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The Creed - Part 1

• 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
  agriculturalist in the promise of better days
  through better ways, even as the better things we
  now enjoy have com to us from the struggles of
  former years.

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The Creed - Part 2

• 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 can not
  deny.

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The Creed - Part 3

• I believe in leadership from ourselves and
  respect for 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 agriculturalists to serve
  our own and public interest in producing and
  marketing the product of our toil.

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The Creed - Part 4

• 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 other
  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.

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The Creed - Part 5

• 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 inspired task.

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What it means Part 1

• 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
  agriculturalist in the promise of better days
  through better ways, even as the better things we
  now enjoy have com to us from the struggles of
  former years.
• Faith in what is yet to come in agriculture,
  because of what is seen not only said.
• The promise of new technology that will lead to a
  brighter future, even as the life we enjoy is
  better then the past.

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What it means Part 2

• 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 and inborn fondness for those associations
  which, even in hours of discouragement, I can not
  deny.
• Involvement in agriculture and related fields is
  a challenging and enjoyable life.
• Those that share this lifestyle are bonded
  together with a common purpose.

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What it means Part 3

• I believe in leadership from ourselves and
  respect for 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 agriculturalists to serve
  our own and public interest in producing and
  marketing the product of our toil.
• Importance of being leaders and respecting
  others.
• Ability to work efficiently and with skill in
  order to produce and market the product of one
  labors.

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What it means Part 4

• 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 other
  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.
• Less dependence on others and a greater ability
  to earn what is needed.
• Giving to others when needed and a better life
  for all.
• Working and living an honest and fair life.

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What it means Part 5

• I believe that American agriculture can and will
  hold true to the best traditions of our national
  life and that I can exert and influence in my
  home and community which will stand solid for my
  part in that inspired task.
• American agriculture can sustain itself for
  future generations.
• That each person has an influence on others
  around them.

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What does it mean to YOU?

• Which section means the most to you?
• Will the FFA creed become your creed?

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Resources

• 1998-99 FFA Official Manual
• FFA Student Handbook (1991)
• www.ffa.org