The National FFA Organization

1. The National FFA Organization Introduction to World Agriculture

2. Objectives • Understand the importance of the National FFA Organization. • List the official FFA colors. • Recite the FFA motto. • Identify important dates in FFA history. • Describe the parts and their meanings of the FFA emblem. • List the FFA officers. • Demonstrate opening and closing ceremonies. • Understand the key components of agriculture education (SAE, FFA, and classroom).

3. Agriculture Education

4. Motto Learning to Do Doing to Learn Earning to Live Living to Serve

5. History • 1917 • Smith-Hughes National Vocational Act established vocational agriculture courses • 1925 • Virginia Tech agricultural education teachers organize the Future Farmers of Virginia for boys in agriculture classes • Served as model for Future Farmers of America

6. History • 1928 • Future Farmers of America is established in Kansas City, MO. • First National FFA Convention held in Kansas City • There were 33 delegates from 18 states present • First sectional gathering of New Farmers of America members held.

7. History • 1929 • National blue and corn gold adpoted as official colors • Carlton Patton of AR named first American Star Farmer • 1930 • Official FFA creed adopted • First official dress uniform was adopted • Dark blue shirt, blue or white pants, blue cap, yellow tie • Membership restricted to boys only • 1933 • Blue corduroy jacket adopted as official dress • A group of FFA officers and members made a pilgrimage to D.C. where they were greeted on the White House lawn by President FDR.

8. History • 1935 • New Farmers of America founded in Tuskegee, AL • Active FFA members exceeded 100,000 members. • 1937 • During national convention, action was taken to establish a national FFA camp and leadership training school in Washington D.C. • 1939 • 28.5 acres of land was purchased for the first FFA-owned national headquarters • The land was part of George Washington’s estate. • 1948 • First FFA week was established • 1952 • First issue of The National Future Farmer magazine was pulished.

9. History • 1965 • New Farmers of America merges with Future Farmers of America. • 1969 • FFA opens membership to girls. • 1973 • FFA official dress standards created. • 1988 • Future Farmers of America changes its name to National FFA Organization to reflect the growing diversity in the industry of agriculture. • Seventh and Eigth grade students permitted to become members.

10. Colors • National Blue • Corn Gold

11. Emblem • Cross section of the ear of corn

12. Emblem • Rising sun

13. Emblem • Plow

14. Emblem • Owl

15. Emblem • Eagle

16. Emblem • The words “Agricultural Education” and “FFA”

17. Official Dress • Males • Black slacks • White collared shirt • Official FFA tie • Black dress shoes • Black socks • An official FFA jacket zipped to the top • Females • Black skirt • White collared blouse • Official FFA scarf • Black dress shoes • Black nylons • An official FFA jacket zipped to the top

18. Officers • President • Vice President • Secretary • Treasurer • Sentinel • Junior Advisor • Reporter

19. SAE • Supervised Agricultural Experience • Year-round program made up of projects or enterprises where you apply agricultural skills and knowledge taught in the classroom • 4 types: • Entrepreneurship • Placement • Agriscience Research and Experimentation • Exploratory

20. CDE • Career Development Event • Leadership • Creed Speaking • Extemporaneous Speaking • Prepared Public Speaking • Parlimentary Procedure

21. Degrees • Discovery FFA Degree • Greenhand FFA Degree • Chapter FFA Degree • State FFA Degree • American FFA Degree

22. Opening and Closing Ceremonies • Vote on officers. • Demonstrate O & C.

23. Star Awards • Star Greenhand • Chapter Star Farmer • State Star Farmer • American Star Farmer • FFA member with the top production agriculture program