1. Discovering the National FFA Organization

2. 1
What is the FFA?
Mission and goals

3. What’s in a name? Old Name: “Future Farmers of America”
Current Name: “The National FFA Organization”
1988: name changed to reflect the growing diversity in the industry of agriculture
More than just “farmers”

4. MISSION STATEMENT
"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."

5. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
A Three Component System

6. SCHOOL-BASED AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
Classroom/Laboratory instruction
Contextual learning
Interactive activities and lessons
Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
Work-based learning
Extern/Internships, research, etc.
Student leadership organizations
National FFA Organization
National Young Farmer Educational Association (NYFEA)
National Post-secondary Agricultural Student Organization (PAS)

7. The National FFA - Colors
National Blue
Blue reminds us that the FFA is a national organization.
Corn Gold
Gold reminds us that corn is a native American crop grown in every state.

8. Learning to Do Doing to Learn Earning to Live Living to Serve
MOTTO
Doing to Learn
Earning to Live
Living to Serve

9. THE EMBLEM The FFA emblem was designed with much thought and meaning.
It is made up of six symbols.

10. CROSS SECTION OF AN EAR OF CORN
Represents UNITY
represents our common agricultural interests, is native to America, and is grown in every state.

11. RISING SUN Represents PROGRESS
progress in agriculture and the confidence that FFA members have in the future.

12. Represents LABOR & TILLAGE of the Soil
PLOW
Represents LABOR & TILLAGE of the Soil
Agriculture is the backbone of our nation

13. EAGLE Represents FREEDOM
Our national symbol also represents the scope of the FFA and our ability to explore new horizons

14. OWL Represents KNOWLEDGE
Wisdom and knowledge is required to be successful in the agricultural industry

15. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION and FFA
WORDS
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION and FFA
Combination of learning and leadership is necessary for progressive agriculture

16. FFA CREED - Paragraph 1
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.

17. FFA CREED - Paragraph 2
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 cannot deny.

18. FFA CREED - Paragraph 3
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 agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

19. FFA CREED - Paragraph 4
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.

20. FFA CREED - Paragraph 5
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.
Written by E.M. Tiffany and adopted at the Third National FFA Convention. It was revised at the 38th and 63rd Conventions.

21. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION, FFA:
Develops competent and assertive agricultural leadership.
Increases awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being.
Strengthens the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their work.
Promotes the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.

22. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION, FFA:
Encourages achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.
Encourages wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community.
Develops interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction.

23. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION, FFA:
Builds character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.
Promotes cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.
Promotes healthy lifestyles.
Encourages excellence in scholarship.

24. Opportunities available within FFA2
What do FFA members do?
Opportunities available within FFA

25. At a Glance: SAEs, CDEs, LDEs, & Careers in Agriculture
center#

26. Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)
required component of an agricultural education program
year-round program made up of projects where you apply agricultural skills and knowledge learned in the classroom
Ownership/Entrepreneurship
Placement/Internship
Research
Exploratory
School-Based Enterprise
Service-learning

27. Career Development Events (CDEs)
build on what you learn in class and through FFA
practice making decisions and experience both teamwork and friendly competition
provide opportunities to develop skills today that you can use in your future career
LDE = Leadership Development Event

28. Team Based CDEs (Middle School)
Floriculture
Food Science & Technology
Forestry
Horse Evaluation
Aquaculture
Citrus
Conduct of Chapter Meetings (LDE)
Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management

29. Team Based CDEs (Middle School)
Parliamentary Procedure (LDE)
Poultry Evaluation
Tool Identification
Vegetable Evaluation
Land Evaluation
Livestock Evaluation
Opening & Closing Ceremonies
Ornamental Horticulture Demo

30. Individual CDEs (Middle School)
Creed Speaking
Extemporaneous Public Speaking
Ornamental Horticulture Demo
Prepare Public Speaking

31. Types of Membership
Active FFA members – those who are enrolled in an agriculture course and have paid their membership dues.
Collegiate FFA members – also belong to FFA chapters at colleges and universities where they are enrolled in agriculture courses.
Alumni membership – is open to anyone interested in supporting and promoting agricultural education and FFA.
Honorary membership – is given to individuals who have provided outstanding service to FFA and agricultural education

32. AWARDS & DEGREES
Members can earn degrees as they progress through the phases of their leadership, academic and career skills development.
Discovery Degree (middle school)
Green hand (9th grade)
Chapter (10th grade)
State (12th grade)
American (after high school) → Only 3% receive this!

33. What do FFA members wear?
Official Dress

34. Only Blue Will Do! Males Females
Official FFA jacket, zipped to the top
Black slacks (no jeans)
White collared shirt
Official FFA tie
Black dress shoes worn with black socks
Females
Official FFA jacket, zipped to the top
Black skirt
White collared shirt
Official FFA blue scarf
Black closed heel and toe dress shoes worn with black nylon hosiery

35. HOW TO BECOME MEMBER Pay your State & National FFA Dues
Dues are $20.00
Sign up with your Agriculture Teacher
Fill out a membership application
Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA