What is FFA?

I really do not know where to begin when writing about FFA. There is so much to say about this amazing organization (yes, that is a biased statement). I will mention the dates that I find significant and talk about my experience in FFA. All of this brings me to my question: What is FFA?

FFA, or back then, Future Farmers of America, was established in Kansas City, Missouri in 1928. The precedent for FFA was FFV, Future Farmers of Virginia. FFV was established to give community to young men who felt like they did not “fit” into the local high school.

Many groundbreaking establishments occurred once FFA was created. Here are a couple of examples:

1929: National Blue and Corn Gold were adopted as the official colors (no, it is not just blue and gold)

1930: Official FFA Creed

1933: Blue Corduroy Jacket adopted apart of official dress

The reason I included these three dates is that the colors, creed, and jackets started about 90 years ago, and FFA members still carry on this tradition. These are founding traditions that are symbolic to the FFA Organization.

One amazing thing about FFA is diversity. Below I will list dates that are symbolic of diversity and inclusion within the FFA:

1935: NFA (New Farmers of America) was founded for people of color

1965: NFA merges with FFA- no more segregation!!

1969: Women are allowed to join the FFA (I will do a writing on women in agriculture later)

1973: First African American, Fred McClure, elected to National FFA Office

1976: First Female, Julie Smiley, elected to National Office

1982: Jan Eberly becomes the first female national president

1994: Corey Flournoy is the first African-American national president

1998: Jose Santiago is the first national office from Puerto Rico

2003: Javier Moreno is the first Puerto Rican national president

These are a lot of dates and names. The reason I include them all is to show how diverse FFA is. There was only a seven-year gap between women joining and a woman holding national president office. An eight-year gap for the NFA to merge and there will be an African American member holding office. My point is that FFA was quick to conform to different ideals in our society.

With that being said, FFA is still predominantly white, but we do welcome diversity. In fact, going through my FFA experience, diversity was wanted-always. Within all levels of the organization, members, and advisors strived for diversity.

One more date I want to mention is 1988 (this could arguably be my favorite date). In 1988, FFA was no longer called Future Farmers of America, but the National FFA Organization. This change “reflects the growing diversity in agriculture” (Organization, 2019).

People all the time ask me what does FFA stands for? I say the National FFA Organization. They then question me, even saying I am wrong sometimes. Why keep those three letters when they don’t stand for anything? Those three letters stand for more than just words. FFA stands for unity. FFA stands for change. FFA stands for inclusion. FFA is home. FFA is a family and community. The list is endless and specific to each member. FFA is not an acronym or a part of a title. FFA is a way of life that leaves an everlasting impact.

When I entered high school I knew I wanted to join FFA. I was so eager I emailed the advisor asking when it would start. I had my heart set on FFA. Little did I know that I was walking into something so much bigger.

There is so much I could talk about during my four years in FFA, but I will mention my favorite memories. I loved everything my chapter did for the community. Whether that was an Operation Christmas Child packing party, teaching 5th graders about leadership and communication, or hanging out at tractor supply. I loved being a part of the community. After all, the FFA motto is: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

Sadly, I missed out on a lot of FFA events such as National Convention, going to Washington, and experiencing FFA summer camp. But, every experience is different. I did make friends all over the state of North Carolina and felt at home when I changed my major to Agricultural Education.

FFA has impacted my life and the life of others all over the country, even Puerto Rico. FFA is more than just an organization. FFA is a community. We are so much more than agriculture. We are leaders. Followers. Servants. Family.

We are FFA.

Click this link to find a detailed timeline about FFA on the National FFA Organization’s website.

Organization, N. (2019, October 22). FFA History. Retrieved December 28, 2020, from https://www.ffa.org/ffa-history/