CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS IN FFA FOR ME?

The Agriculture Education Program

• 3 Parts:– Classroom/Laboratory

• Hands-on learning – school does apply to the real world!

– FFA• Student organization to

use what’s learned in class

– SAE• Ag-related work or

learning experience outside of class

Do I have to live on a farm to be in FFA?

• No!• Agriculture is more

than farming and Production Agriculture.

• Less than 10% of our members come from a farm background.

Why Join FFA?

• Opportunities– Meet New People– Expand Your

Knowledge– *Develop Leadership

Skills– Travel– Financial– Build Your Future– HAVE FUN!!!

Activities and Events

• Leadership Conferences and Camps

• Conventions• Career Development

Events (CDEs)• FFA Band and

Chorus

The FFA and Your Career• Agriculture Careers

P rod u ction (7.5% )E d /Com m u n . (7.6% )

S ocial S ervice (9.7

Man ag ers (14.0% )

S cien ce (28.8% )

Marketin g (32.4% )

CHAPTER 2:FFA Then and Now

FFA History

• 1917 Congress passed Smith-Hughes Act– established agriculture classes

• 1920’s Future Farmers of Virginia formed– Henry Groseclose-”Father of the FFA”

• 1926 American Royal in Kansas City invited vocational agriculture students to judge livestock

FFA History• 1928 1st National Convention in Kansas

City’s Baltimore Hotel

1st President - Leslie Applegate

1st Nat. Advisor - Dr. C.H. Lane

Dues set at $0.10

• 1929 Carton Patton 1st American Star Farmer

• National Blue and Corn Gold official colors

• 1933 FFA Jacket adopted as official dress

The Creed

• Written by E.M. Tiffany.

• Creed serves as a “guideline” for FFA members

• Creed has only been changed twice.

• Has its own CDE. • Also designed the

jacket!

FFA History

• 1947 National FFA Band

• 1948 National FFA Chorus

• 1948 National FFA Supply Service Formed

Official Jackets

Awards

Anything FFA

FFA History• 1950 Public Law 740 granted National

FFA a Federal Charter

FFA recognized as “intracurricular” part of the agriculture education program

• 1952 National Future Farmer magazine published

now called FFA New Horizon

• 1952 Code of Ethics adopted

• 1955 FFA in Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Thailand

• 1955 International Student exchange programs begun

-can now travel to 30 countries

• 1965 NFA merged with FFA

NFA (New Farmers) African American

FFA History

FFA History

• 1969 Girls admitted to FFA

• 1969 First Star Agribusinessman

• 1971 National FFA Alumni founded

support agriculture education

• *****1988 Name changed to National FFA Organization– Why is this important?

FFA Degrees

• Recognize active members for participation and skill acquisition

• Page 21 - – Discovery– Greenhand– Chapter– State– American

Chapter 3: Today’s FFA

FFA Mission

What is FFA all about?

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.

Today’s FFA

• FFA Mission

– Significant Levels•Chapter •Section• District• State• National

Today’s FFA

• Levels of FFA Membership– Like moving from pre-school to elementary to middle school to high school

– 4 levels for membership• Enter a new level as we get older and more

experienced

Today’s FFA• Levels of FFA Membership

1. Active• Middle and High School• Enrolled in an Ag Ed Class• Paid FFA dues

2. Collegiate• Post-high school• Pursuing an ag-related career or interest in the

future of the agricultural industry• Paid FFA dues

Today’s FFA

• Levels of FFA Membership3. Alumni

• Past FFA members and supporters of FFA• Paid FFA alumni dues• 40,000 members across the United States

4. Honorary• FFA supporter who’s gone above and beyond the

necessary• Nominated to receive the membership – no dues

The FFA Emblem

• Unity

• Progress

• Labor and Tillage of the Soil

• Freedom

• Knowledge

The Basics

• FFA Colors– Adopted in 1929– What are they?

• National Blue:– Nation’s Flag

• Corn Gold– Fields of Ripened Corn

The Basics

• FFA Motto– 12 words for FFA members to live by:

• Learning to Do,• Doing to Learn,• Earning to Live,• Living to Serve

FFA Official Dress

Chapter Officers

• Serve as the leaders for the Chapter.

• Encourage Participation in activities.

• Represent the Chapter at other FFA events.

• Critical to the success of the chapter.

Chapter Offices

• President• Vice-President• Reporter• Secretary • Treasurer• Sentinel• Additional Offices?

Why run for chapter office?

• Position of leadership.• Ability to impact and

change our organization.

• Ability to change and impact lives.

• Be a role model.• Foundation to higher

levels of office.