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National FFA Organization

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National FFA Organization
Formation1928
TypeYouth organization
Legal statusIntra-Curricular Non-profit organization
PurposeTo make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
HeadquartersIndianapolis
Region served
 United States
Membership520,000
7,439 (Chapters)
Official language
English
National President
Levy Randolph (California)
AffiliationsFuture Farmers of Japan[citation needed]
WebsiteNational FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. The organization was founded in 1928 as Future Farmers of America, but in 1988 the name was changed to the National FFA Organization, now commonly referred to as simply FFA, to recognize that the organization is not only for those interested in farming, but it is also for those with more diverse interests in the industry of agriculture, encompassing science, business and technology in addition to production farming[1]. Today FFA is the largest youth organization in the United States, with over 520,000 members[2] in 7,439 chapters [3] throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The organization holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.[4]

About FFA

Degrees

Many levels of the FFA can award degrees of membership to that level, signifying an individual member's accomplishments. The recognized Degrees of Membership are:

  • Discovery FFA Degree, awarded to Middle School students with an understanding of FFA knowledge.
  • Greenhand FFA Degree, awarded to new high school FFA members who can recite the FFA Creed and have formed an SAE plan.
  • Chapter FFA Degree (formerly Chapter Farmer), awarded by each Chapter on the basis of hours worked and/or money earned in an SAE.
  • State FFA Degree (formerly State Farmer or Planter), awarded by each state based on hours worked and/or money earned in an SAE. This is the highest degree that a member may attain at a state level.[5]
  • American FFA Degree (formerly American Farmer), awarded by the National FFA Organization, and the highest degree that a member may attain.[6] Also has a region for each state.


Official FFA Dress

The most recognizable symbol of the organization is the blue corduroy jacket that is worn by current FFA members. Originally created to be worn by the Fredericktown Band of the Fredericktown FFA Chapter by Dr. Gus Lintner[7] the Official FFA Jacket was adopted in 1933 as the Organization's Official Dress. Official Dress for members is as follows:

Males[8]

  • Black slacks with black belt
  • White collared button-up shirt (tucked in)
  • Official FFA tie
  • Black dress shoes
  • Black socks
  • Official FFA jacket, zipped to the top with tallywacker(zipper) tucked in

Females[8]

  • Black knee length skirt
  • White collared button-down blouse (tucked in)
  • Official FFA blue scarf
  • Plain black heels
  • Official FFA jacket zipped to the top with zipper tucked in
  • Black nylon hosiery

Members through their time in the FFA work to earn metal pins to place on their jackets[9] Awards include contests pins and proficiency awards. There should never be more than 3 pins on the front of the jacket. Pins that can be below the student's name includes the highest office, highest award, and Discovery, Greenhand, Chapter degrees. The State and American degrees are the only ones that can be above the name if not on a 15"- 20" official FFA degree chain. If a member has earned the State or American FFA degree no other pins should be displayed. No other pins should be displayed either way in these cases. If the member holds the American Degree the state degree should also be removed.

Over the years, FFA jackets have come in many forms and colors. Changing suppliers and newer design specifications allowed the jacket to fit awkwardly and the color to turn a deep purple, with orange emblem. Efforts by the National FFA, under the campaign "Only Blue Will Do," redesigned the FFA jacket to its original crisp blue color.[7] In addition, the cost of the jacket was lowered, and original design elements were restored, such as specialized stitching. All new jackets now are produced to strict standards of quality.[7]

Traditions

As an organization, the FFA has many traditions and trademarks identifying it as an agricultural education organization:[clarification needed]

The FFA Motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

The FFA Mission: The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.[10]

The Official FFA Colors: National Blue and Corn Gold (worn on the Official FFA jackets).[11]

The FFA Creed

The FFA creed was written by Erwin Milton "E.M." Tiffany of Wisconsin[12] and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA.[12] It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention. It is recited by new members to the organization, to reflect their growing belief in agriculture and agricultural education it also must be memorized and recited to earn the Greenhand Degree.

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.

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.

Career Development Events

FFA Career Development Event, or CDE's, are contests that members compete in to test their skills learned through agricultural education instruction. They vary at the different levels of the FFA, and some are competed in only at certain levels and certain states, districts, areas or federations.[citation needed]

At the National level, there are 23 CDE's:[citation needed]

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Others

Examples of CDEs that can be available at the state level are:

  • Quizbowl
  • Small Animal Care
  • Arboriculture
  • Safe Equipment Operation
  • Land Judging
  • Rangland Judging
  • Ag Electricity
  • Opening/Closing Ceremonies
  • Farm Business Management
  • Wildlife
  • Wool
  • Website Development
  • Entomology
  • Vegetable Judging
  • Tractor Operations

Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs

To be an active member in the National FFA Organization, a member must have an Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project.[citation needed] The projects involve hands-on application of concepts and principles learned in the agricultural education classroom, with guidelines for the SAE projects governed by the state FFA delegation. SAE programs are grouped into four different areas:

  • Exploratory - learning about the 'big picture' of agriculture and related careers
  • Research/Experimentation and Analysis - conducting research or analysis of information to discover new knowledge
  • Ownership/Entrepreneurship - planning and operation of an agriculture-related business
  • Placement - working either for pay or experience in an agricultural setting

Prominent former members

In government

In entertainment

In the arts

Other

  • Sterling Marlin, NASCAR driver
  • Bo Jackson, American athlete and a former multi-sport professional in American football (NFL) and Baseball (MLB)
  • Bryant Reeves, retired American professional basketball player for the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies
  • Mark Tauscher, American football Offensive Tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.
  • Brad Meester, American football center for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Former FFA chapter president.
  • FFA was featured prominently in one part of the movie Napoleon Dynamite, where Napoleon and his friend Pedro Sanchez were portrayed as FFA members in their FFA jacket (not full "Official Dress") participating and winning medals in various Career Development Events (CDE) including milk tasting in the Dairy Foods CDE and Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE.

FFA are also featured in the Dixie Chicks' song "Goodbye Earl" where the two heroes of the story were "active in the FFA".

In Craig Morgan's "International Harvester," it says, "I'm a lifetime sponsor of the FFA."

References

  1. ^ http://www.ffa.org/documents/about_ffahistory.pdf FFA History
  2. ^ FFA Breaks Membership Record
  3. ^ The FFA Mission
  4. ^ U.S. Code collection
  5. ^ Area student receives FFA degree
  6. ^ Three U of M, Crookston Students Awarded American FFA Degree
  7. ^ a b c "Universal Lettering Co. - History". Universallettering.com. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  8. ^ a b http://texasffa.org/TexasFFA/MembersOnly/OfficialDress/tabid/6764/Default.aspx
  9. ^ "National FFA Organization - Agricultural Education". Ffa.org. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  10. ^ http://www.ffa.org/documents/about_publiclaw105225.pdf
  11. ^ "FFA Facts". Ffa.umn.edu. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  12. ^ a b "National FFA Organization - Agricultural Education". Ffa.org. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
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