🐮🐮🐮 Don't Forget to Join The Herd by Signing Up for 1 or More Ag Classes Next Year!! 🐮🐮🐮
The Bandys FFA Chapter is seeking to preserve the history and traditions of the Catawba NFA Chapter through this page and highlight the amazing work of the program's advisors and young men. Please share any information or contacts that you might have about the Catawba NFA Chapter to laura_parker@catawbaschools.net.
The New Farmers of America (NFA) began as a national organization for African-American farm youth in 1935 to promote agricultural leadership, character, thrift, scholarship, cooperation, and citizenship. In 1965, following 30 years of service to these farm boys, the NFA and FFA merged into a larger Future Farmers of America program.
New Farmer Chapters were very involved in their communities and members were often involved as young farmers even after they graduated from high school as programs were designed to help build and unite the communities they served. Members participated in similar events such as contests to demonstrate the knowledge they learned in class, as well as a well known quartet contest as well, in addition to attending camping programs and earning recognition for their supervised agriculture projects and awards (degree) earned.
The Catawba Rosenwald School opened in 1927 to serve African American students in grades 1-10, and later 1-12, during the time of segregation. It was named for Julius Rosenwald, President of Sears, Roebuck and Company, who initiated a school building program that had a dramatic impact on the face of the rural South and in the lives of its African-American residents.
In July 1939 the Catawba Rosenwald School began offering vocational agriculture courses and soon after the New Farmers of America Chapter was established and became one of the primer NFA chapters in the nation. In 1965 the NFA and FFA merged on the national level as the Future Farmers of America. Members from the Catawba Chapter became active in the Bandys FFA & Bunker Hill FFA Chapters.
Mr. R. K. Wright
Unknown
Mr. Aldon Carson
Oct. 1929 - May 2021
Catawba NFAThe Catawba Rosenwald NFA Chapter was nationally known for the work they did to build not only interest in agriculture but relationships in the community. From working with local dairymen to provide students the opportunity to show cattle to building homes for young farmers and operating a cannery to help members of the community preserve food (which was also shared overseas during World War II).
Click on the Google Slideshow to learn more about the works of Mr. R. K. Wright & Catawba NFA!
Willie Dockery - National NFA Treasurer (1946-1947)
Charlie Flowers- State Treasurer (Unknown)
Cleophus Williams – State Vice President (Unknown) and President (1948-1949) & Federation President (Unknown)
J. W. Turner- State Vice President (1950-1951)
Weddie Gabriel- State Treasurer (1952-1953) & Federation Treasurer (Unknown)
Willie Rhinehardt- State Reporter ( 1954-1955) & Federation Reporter (Unknown)
The following individuals were recognized for their outstanding projects (comparable to today's Supervised Ag Experiences) on the national level through the Cotton Bowl Competition (similar to a proficiency award)! These awards were provided by the National FFA Foundation to NFA members.
Sank Mundy- Sectional Winner- Star Dairy Farmer, 1948
Joe Odum-Sectional Winner- Soil & Water Management, 1951
Oscar Odum-Farm Home Improvement- 2nd Place Winner, 1952
Weddie Gabriel- Sectional Winner- Soil & Water Management, 1953
The Modern Farmer Degree is the highest award given by the state association, and was given annually to the most outstanding member of the chapter at the end of his third year.
Dennis Hill
Willie Dockery
Joe Tyson
Richard Hill
Willie Rhinehardt
Lucius McCullough
Earnest McCullough
James Rhinehardt
Lafayette Hill
Oscar Odum
Charlie Flowers
J. W. Turner
Rayvon Anthony
Walter Lyrley
Chalmus Hull
Sank Mundy
Joe Odum
Cleophus Williams
Weddie Gabriel
W. D. Lyrley
Kenneth Fish
This is an ongoing effort to preserve the Catawba NFA Chapter History.
Photo Resources from:
NCFFA- NFA Archives
The Legacy of the New Farmers of America Book
