National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a form of youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization based on high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. The organization, founded in 1928 as Future Farmers of America, now claims over 490,000 members. FFA was originally an acronym for Future Farmers of America but in 1988 the association, in an effort to broaden its potential membership beyond youth working in modern American agriculture, changed the name of the organization from Future Farmers of America to National FFA Organization and is still commonly referred to as FFA. High school students compete in various competitions in two major areas-career development events (CDE's) and supervised agricultural experiences (SAE's). CDE's consist of competitions aimed toward skills in a certain career area from agricultural marketing, meat, livestock, and dairy judging to food science and agricultural communications. An SAE program involves hands-on application of concepts and principles learned in the agricultural education classroom. Students are supervised by agricultural education teachers in cooperation with parents, employers and other adults who assist them in the development and achievement of their educational and career goals. SAE programs fall into four different areas: Exploratory (learning about the 'big picture' of agriculture and its many related careers), Research/Experimentation and Analysis (conducting research or analyze information to discover new knowledge), Ownership/Entrepreneurship (planning and operate an agriculture-related business), or Placement (working for someone else either for pay or for the experience).
FFA is based in chapters at the middle school and high school level. Each chapter is chartered as part of the state association and national organization. Competition for CDE's takes place at each level. Lower levels are considered qualifying for competition at the national level. Starting in 2006, the National Convention, where most of the national competition takes place, begins a seven year run in Indianapolis, Indiana. The National FFA Association previously held its annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Before Louisville, conventions were held in Kansas City, Missouri.
The current National FFA Advisor is Dr. Larry Case and the current National FFA Executive Secretary is C. Coleman Harris. The current National President is Travis Jett from Oklahoma.
The FFA colors are national blue and corn gold. The official dress is the FFA jacket, a blue corduroy jacket with the FFA emblem on the back. It was adopted in 1933 when members from the Fredericktown, OH chapter arrived at the national convention wearing them.
The FFA combined with the NFA (New Farmers of America) in 1965, and allowed girls to join in 1969. Henry Groseclose is known as the "Father of the FFA".
The FFA Creed
This is 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 agriculturalists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us through 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 can not 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 agriculturalists 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
External links
- Official FFA Website
- Virginia Historical Marker Future Farmers of America