The National FFA Organization, originally called the Future
Farmers of America, was founded in 1928 as a national organization for boys in
rural, farming communities. Its original
purpose, the education of youth in agricultural fields of study, is still
recognized through its current programs.
Today, the mission of the National FFA Organization is to make a
positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural
education. Through educational programs
the FFA teaches students how to become active in their communities and
successful in their occupation. FFA
membership includes junior high, high school, and college students and totals
approximately 450,000.
This collection contains correspondence, minutes,
newsletters, publications, reports, audio cassettes, video cassettes, and
photographs.
ACCESS
This collection is open to the public without
restriction. The copyright law of the
United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies
or other reproductions of copyrighted material.
Immediate access may not be allowed for some audio and
visual materials due to preservation concerns. Please consult Archives
Reference Staff for further details.
PREFERRED CITATION
Cite as: National FFA Organization Records, 1916-2008, IUPUI University Library Special
Collections and Archives, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
ACQUISITION
Presented by National FFA Organization, June 1998-June 2000.
A1997/98-026, A1999/00-002, A1999/00-013, A1999/00-023, A2000/01-012,
A2002/03-029, A2003/04-025, A2004/05-007, A2005/06-001, A2005/06-016,
A2006/07-026, A2007/08-015, A2007/08-029.
Processed by Debra Brookhart, September 2000 and September
2009.
Collection processed with funds provided by the Indianapolis
Foundation.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Historical Timeline
1917
The Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act
establishes vocational agriculture courses.
1925
Virginia Tech agricultural education teacher educators Henry
Groseclose, Harry Sanders, Walter Newman, and Edmund Magill organize the Future
Farmers of Virginia for boys in agriculture classes. The Future Farmers of Virginia would later
serve as the model for the Future Farmers of America.
1926
New Farmers of America, an organization for African-American
boys interested in agriculture, is formed in Virginia. It, like the FFA, was sponsored by the United
States Office of Education and paralleled the FFA's programs and activities to
the point that they offered many of the same programs under different
names. In 1965, the NFA merged into the
FFA and ceased to exist.
The American Royal Livestock Show invites vocational
agriculture students to participate in National Livestock Judging Contests in
Kansas City, Missouri.
<
1928
During the National Livestock Judging Contests, 33 students
from 18 states establish the Future Farmers of America to provide leadership
training for farm boys. During this
first annual convention, Leslie Applegate is elected president and dues are set
at 10 cents annually. The National
Convention was held in Kansas City 1928-1998.
1930
At the 3rd National Convention, the issue of
membership was clarified when the constitution was amended restricting
membership to boys only under Article III, Section B. Girls were restricted to activities at the
state and local levels in the years following this decision.
The official creed and colors - national blue and corn gold
- are adopted. The creed, written by E.
M. Tiffany, has been amended three times but still retains its original basic
tenants.
1933
Fredericktown, Ohio, FFA members arrive at the National
Convention in blue corduroy jackets with the FFA emblem on the back. Official delegates vote to adopt the jacket
as the organization's official dress. Members
still wear the nationally-recognized jackets today, honoring the tradition and
history of the FFA.
Members across the country celebrate the first national FFA
Day. In 1948 this celebration would be
changed to FFA Week and celebrated during George Washington's birthday to
recognize his pioneering contributions to American agriculture.
1944
The National FFA Foundation, Inc. was established in
Washington D.C., to raise money for FFA programs and activities from business,
industry, government, individuals, and foundation sponsors. Today, the foundation is located in
Indianapolis, Indiana, and raises more than $7.3 million annually.
1948
FFA members participate in the organization's first
international exchange program with the Young Farmers Club of Great
Britain. This exchange launched a major
international program that included internships for students and the
establishment of future farmer organizations worldwide. By 1996, the FFA would send more than 350
students to more than 25 countries annually.
1950
The U.S. Congress passes Public Law 81-740, which grants the
FFA a Federal Charter and stipulates that a U.S. Department of Education staff
member be the National FFA Advisor.
Today the FFA continues to be recognized by Congress as an intra-curricular
part of the educational program.
1959
The FFA headquarters is established in Alexandria, Virginia,
on land which was part of George Washington's estate. The FFA had owned the land since 1939 and
used it as a national camp.
1965
The New Farmers of America, the organization for
African-American agricultural students, merges with the FFA, adding 50,000
members.
1966
The FFA National Agricultural Career Show, a trade show
especially for students, exposes National Convention attendees to educational
and career opportunities in agriculture.
By 1999, 350 exhibitors participate annually in the event.
1969
Women are allowed national membership making it possible for
them to hold office and participate in competitive events at the regional and
national level. Prior to this amendment
women were permitted membership only at the local and state level. Today, 34% of FFA membership is female, while
more than 50% of state leadership positions are held by women.
1971
The National FFA Alumni Association is founded, providing
opportunities for former FFA members and other supporters to become involved
with their local student chapters. In
2000, the Alumni Association had 42,000 members.
1974
Fred McClure is elected Western Region Vice President,
becoming the organization's first African-American National Officer. McClure would later serve on President George
Bush's staff in Washington, D.C.
1982
Jan Eberly becomes the first female National FFA President.
1988
Delegates to the National FFA Convention change "Future
Farmers of America" to the "National FFA Organization" to recognize the growth
of agriculture and agricultural education to encompass the more than 300
careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. Delegates also opened FFA membership to
middle school students.
1994
Corey Flournoy of Chicago, Illinois, is elected National FFA
President, becoming the organization's first African-American president and
first urban student leader.
1996
The National FFA web site, National FFA Online, goes
live. In 1999, there were more than
140,000 visitors per month.
1998
The National FFA Convention was held in Kansas City,
Missouri, for the last time in November 1998; the convention set an attendance
record, drawing 49,240 members, guests, and supporters.
The National FFA Center moves to Indianapolis, Indiana, from
Alexandria, Virginia. The National FFA
Center houses the National FFA Organization, the National FFA Foundation, and
the National FFA Alumni Association.
Approximately 1,000 guests attended the dedication ceremonies on July
20, 1998.
1999
The National FFA Convention is held in Louisville, Kentucky,
for the first time and will stay in Louisville through 2005; attendance was
46,918.
2000
FFA continues to expand opportunities for agricultural
career preparation by introducing one new career development event,
Agricultural Communications, and two demonstration events, Agronomy and Job
Interview.
2006
The National FFA Convention is held for the first time in
Indianapolis, Indiana; attendance was 54,489.
FFA membership totals 451,997 in 7,268 chapters in all 50
states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Adapted from Key Moments in FFA History timeline on the National FFA Organization website, www.ffa.org.
Organizational Structure
The mission of the National FFA Organization is to make a
positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural
education. Through educational programs,
the FFA teaches students how to become active in their communities and
successful in their occupation.
Emphasizing agricultural education the FFA demonstrates its ideals
through the FFA Creed. The creed
represents the beliefs all members of the organization are to hold. FFA membership includes junior high, high
school, and college students.
The FFA is organized in such a way that promotes active
participation by members. First and
foremost the FFA is a student organization that actively seeks to educate
students in agricultural fields of study.
Six students are elected annually to serve as the National FFA
Officers. These students are leaders and
serve as representatives of the organization's membership. The FFA was originally set up as an
organization to be administered directly by the elected student
representatives. Adult advisors were
elected by the students and served only as advisors to the governing body of
student officers called the Board of Trustees.
The constitution made no mention of any other form of
administration. However, the expansion
of the scope and programming of the FFA involved a great deal of financial and
legal responsibility that minors could not effectively manage. The strong ties to the state and national government
and with school boards further complicated the issue. After careful study of the problem, it was
decided in1931 that an Advisory Council be created to oversee the activities of
the National Student Officers and the positions of National Advisor and
Executive Secretary to be positions filled by employees of the U.S. Office of
Education rather than by elected officials. Other members
of the Council included state officers in agricultural education. Originally, the Advisory Council had veto
power over the students' decisions, but not a vote. Their job was to observe and make
recommendations to the students that helped them stay focused. The Advisory Council also took responsibility
for following the policies set forth by the national constitution.
The Advisory Council acted as
consultants to the student board until 1950 when the FFA was federally
chartered. At this point the duties and
responsibilities of the students and adults shifted. The Advisory Council was renamed the Board of
Directors and became the official governing body of the national
organization. The Board of Trustees was
renamed the Board of Student Officers.
According to the charter, the official duties of the students were to
advise and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the
conduct of activities and business of the corporation. The national student officers had the right
to participate in the board meetings as voting members, but no longer were the
sole authority. They made motions to the
board which were sustained by an adult member and participated actively in
those meetings. After the charter, the
Board began to meet three times annually.
When the board is not in session, a governing committee composed of the
board chairman (National FFA Advisor) and two members of the chairman's staff,
has the authority of the board to make decisions that require immediate
attention. The board continues to
operate in this manner.
The development of leadership
skills in members is an important aspect of the educational programs sponsored
by the FFA. Leadership is encouraged
through the election of student officers at the chapter, state, and national
levels; participation in leadership conferences; international experience; and
award programs that emphasize skill and leadership abilities. Degrees earned recognize the increasing
accomplishments of members at the local and state levels culminating in the
American FFA Degree at the national level.
The FFA's programs are highlighted at the National FFA Convention
through the presentation of awards and demonstrations of skill in chosen fields
of study.
The National Convention is an
annual event held by the organization.
The main functions of the convention are the presentation of awards and
the conducting of organizational business.
FFA members are represented at the business sessions by delegates from
each state. These delegates are selected
by the state organization and are given the authority to vote on matters
affecting the organization. Each state
is allowed at least two delegates and may send more based on the size of the
state association. The business session
of the convention is run by the student officers and operates by the rules of
parliamentary procedure. Delegates are
divided into committees that discuss relevant issues and report their
recommendations to the convention. These
items are discussed and voted on by the entire group. All changes to the constitution must be
ratified by the delegates and approved by the Board of Directors. Since the
Board bears legal responsibility over the actions of the organization, it has
the power of veto on all actions approved by the convention delegates. The convention delegates also elect the
national officers based on the candidates who meet the qualifications and are
approved by the board.
The administration of the FFA is
carried out at the National FFA Headquarters, the policy making branch, and the
National FFA Center, the implementation branch.
Originally, the small staff of the organization allowed the center of
operations to be housed in the U.S. Office of Education with the National
Advisor and Executive Secretary. As the
organization began to grow and the Office of Education realized the need for
the FFA to operate separate from the government office, a plan for a national
center developed. In 1959, the National
FFA Center in Alexandria, Virginia, was dedicated and the FFA operations moved
to the center.
Currently, the National FFA
Headquarters is located in Alexandria, Virginia, and has a direct connection to
the U.S. Department of Education. Three
main purposes direct the activities of the National Headquarters: 1) to provide
strategic direction, 2) fulfill certain legal requirements, and 3) to develop
and oversee policy. The personnel at the headquarters responsible for carrying out these
duties are the National Advisor and the Executive Secretary (See Appendix A for
a complete listing of the leaders.). The
National Advisor is the chief administrator of the FFA and the National FFA
Foundation. Responsibilities of the
National Advisor include chairing the FFA Board of Directors and the Foundation
Board of Trustees; supporting and guiding the organization; advising student
officers; and reviewing individually all applications for the American FFA
Degree. The Executive Secretary arranges
all board meetings; plans and oversees the arrangements for the National
Convention; keeps records of the corporation, boards, national officers, and
convention delegates; issues charters to state associations; and assists the
advisor in the guidance and policy development of the organization.
The National FFA Center, relocated
to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1997, is responsible for the program development
and implementation for the organization.
Divided into ten teams and administered by the Chief Operating Officer,
it is the main resource for events and information about the organization. All marketing, distribution, and student
services originate at the center. The
Alumni Association and the National FFA Foundation also operate from the
National FFA Center.
REFERENCES
National FFA Organization. "National
FFA Organization Homepage," http://www.ffa.org.
"Federal Charter for the Future
Farmers of America 1950," (P.L. 81-740), United States Statutes at Large.
Stat. 2868.
Tenney, A. Webster. The FFA at 50: 1928-1978. Alexandria: FFA Supply Service, 1977. (IUPUI
University Library call number SPEC COLL S533.F8 T39)
RELATED MATERIALS
Agricultural Education. Danville: Interstate Printers and Publishers, 1934-1995.
(IUPUI University Library call number SPEC COLL S530.A3)
Agricultural Educators
Directory. Greensburg: Charles M. Henry
Printing Company, 1953-1997. (IUPUI University Library call number SPEC COLL
S533.A271)
American Farm Youth. Danville: Interstate Printers and Publishers, 1935-1961.
(IUPUI University Library call number SPEC COLL S1.A447)
Bender, Ralph E., Robert E.
Taylor, Chester K. Hansen, and L.H. Newcomb.
The FFA and You. Danville:
The Interstate, 1979. (IUPUI University
Library call number SPEC COLL S533.F8 B4 1979)
Chapman, Paul W. The Green Hand: A Story of the FFA. Chicago: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1932. (IUPUI University Library call number
SPEC COLL PS1292.C437 G7 1932)
Farrar, John. FFA at 25. Alexandria: FFA Supply Service, 1956. (IUPUI University Library call number SPEC
COLL S533.F8 F888 1956)
Fields, M.A. New Farmers of
America: 25 Years of Accomplishment.
Washington D.C.: New Farmers of America, 1960. (IUPUI University Library
call number SPEC COLL S533.N49 F545 1959)
National FFA Organization. "National
FFA Organization Homepage," http://www.ffa.org/.
New Horizons (previously National Future Farmer) Alexandria:
National FFA Organization, 1952-2000. (IUPUI University Library call number
SPEC COLL S1.F97)
Ross, William Arthur. Forward
FFA: Leadership for Future Farmers, Agriculturists and Advisors. Baltimore: The French-Bray Printing Company,
1964. (IUPUI University Library call
number SPEC COLL S533.F8 R677 1964)
Strickland, Cecil L., Sr. New Farmers of America in Retrospect: The
Formative Years 1935-1965.
Hempstead: Joyco Printing, 1994. (IUPUI University Library call number
SPEC COLL S533.N49 S775 1995)
Tenney, A.W. FFA in Action. Washington D.C.: FFA, 1945. (IUPUI University Library call number SPEC
COLL S1 .F97 1945)
Tenney, A.W. FFA in Action. Washington D.C.: FFA, 1947. (IUPUI University Library call number SPEC
COLL S1 .F97 1947)
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The records of the National FFA
Organization contain extensive documentation of the organization, its programs
and activities, and its leadership.
Although the administrative records contain scattered internal
information related to National Advisors and Executive Secretaries, the minutes
of the Board of Directors is complete.
Other highlights in the collection include the records of the
international programs documenting the growth of student exchange programs and
future farmer organizations in other countries; public relations activities
that include press releases, calendars, and FFA Week materials; and National
Conventions that contain a complete set of proceedings from 1928-1998, press
releases about award winners, and scripts of pageants performed at the conventions. A sense of rural America is fostered through
radio program scripts from the 1930s and 1940s and a massive collection of
photographs documenting the growth and changes in rural agriculture in the
United States from the late 1920s to the present, national award winners in FFA
contests, National Student Officers, and adult leaders in the
organization.
Board of Directors Records, 1928-2005, consist of the newsletter, Board
Issues, board minutes and index, and correspondence. Board Issues is sent to members
involved with the Board of Directors, the Board of National Student Officers,
and the Foundation Board of Trustees. It
discusses issues from the meetings that directly affect the national
organization. A complete set of the Board minutes, 1928-1996, document all
major decisions within the National FFA Organization. For Board minutes prior to 1957 there is an
index available arranged by topic. For
more in depth information there are scattered committee reports located within
this series. Further information about
the board and the decisions made by the student membership can be found in the
National FFA Convention proceedings located in the National Convention
records.
National Officer Records, 1928-2004, consist of correspondence,
biographies, and press releases. These
records document the activities of the six national officers elected
annually. The early files, 1928-1964,
contain correspondence to and from the officers and fully document their
activities during their terms. Biographical
information for these years can be found in press releases about the new
officers and their outstanding accomplishments.
Later files contain less correspondence and more direct biographical
information. The Goodwill Tour Booklets
are a mostly complete set, 1967-2000, of biographical information about each of
the national officers. The Goodwill Tour
is a nation-wide trip by the national officers to thank supporters of the
organization.
Administration Records, 1928-2008, contain correspondence,
articles, publications, audits, and reports.
The administration files are divided into two main groups:
administrative officers and office files.
The administrative officer files are the records of the National
Advisors, Executive Secretaries, and other important officials who serve the
National FFA Organization. These files
contain information about trips, responsibilities, and problems occurring
during their tenure. The records in this series can also be used to find
information regarding important people, events, and programs within the
national organization. The records of only two of the Executive Secretaries,
William A. Ross and William Paul Gray, are found in this collection. A combination of the Executive Secretary,
National Advisor, and other officers' records gives the researcher an overview
of all major developments of the organization. The most extensive documentation
is found in the files of E.J. Johnson, a program officer during the
1940s-1960s, and William Paul Gray.
Executive Secretary William Arthur Ross's files contain important
information regarding the early organization and how its programs
developed. An important section to
review is the memos written by Ross to his supervisor reporting on his
activities. This ten year run of records,
1929-1939, contains an index organized by date and title.
The second group of records is the
office files. These records deal with
how the whole organization operates rather than just the officers. Contained in this series are the most
complete financial and policy records as well as important legal battles that
affected the way the FFA operates. The
National FFA Constitution and Federal Charter can be found with these records.
State Association Records, 1919-1998, consist of newsletters, correspondence,
annual reports, written histories, state charters, and articles about the
activities of the state FFA associations.
The records are arranged alphabetically by state. The strength of these records are the
information about state organizations and activities prior to 1960. Another important state activity was the
creation of scrapbooks. The scrapbooks
were submitted to the national organization by each state as a part of a
national contest between the states and accurately demonstrate the activities
of the chapters within the state associations.
The scrapbooks of Illinois and Nebraska are retained as a representative
sampling. The annual reports submitted
in 1987-1990 are individual reports collected from each state. The reports prior to 1960 are based on
individual state reports, but are compiled into one large, national report on
the states. The records include all
fifty states plus Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.These records do not fully document the
histories of the state organizations, but provide insights into how the
national and state organizations interacted and how early state associations
operated.
History Records, 1916-2003, contain biographies, histories, news clippings, and press
releases important to the history of the national organization. These records are organized by subject and
name and arranged alphabetically. These
records are a quick source for biographical data on important leaders and
background information on the traditions and movements of the organization. The series offers a large variety of both
current and historical names and events associated with the organization. Information about national officers is not
located in these records, but is found in the National Officer Records series.
National Convention Records, 1925-2008, consist of correspondence,
programs, proceedings, press releases, and other materials related to the
National FFA Conventions. The series is
arranged chronologically starting with some records that predate the formation
of the FFA but are related the National Congress of Vocational Agricultural
Students, predecessor of the National FFA Convention. The Agricultural Career Show records are also
included. The Career Show, similar to a
job fair, is held annually in conjunction with the National Convention. The records consist mainly of informational
packets about the Career Show each year.
Each convention produces similar types of records that are organized
under three main headings: clippings, printed materials, and scrapbooks.
The clippings section contains
newspaper and magazine articles mainly from the Kansas City, Missouri area
related to the events at the conventions.
The printed materials section
contains all of the programs, proceedings, and booklets that are produced for
the convention. This collection contains
a complete set of convention proceedings that are informative because they
document every important event at the convention. Retiring officer addresses, minutes of the
business sessions, awards information, and, in the early years, the four public
speeches were all printed in the proceedings.
The final section is the scrapbooks that contains press
releases, correspondence, and informational hand-outs. The scrapbooks also contain information about
awards, general information such as convention summaries and highlights,
scripts, and speeches. Other information
about the awards given at the convention can be found in the Foundation Series
under awards, in the State Records, and in the Awards Series.
Award Records, 1926-2005, consist of handbooks, award books, award entries, and
correspondence. These records deal
largely with contest descriptions, proposals, correspondence related to the
founding of a contest, and published materials about the awards. The best place
to find a list of award winners is at the end of this series under
Winners-Compiled List for the years up to 1976.
Some information about specific winners can be found in the winner
booklets, but complete lists of winners from every contest is published in the
proceedings of the National Convention each year and in the Convention news
releases, located in the National Convention Records. Further information can also be found with
the National Foundation Records.These
records include yearly lists of foundation award winners in the foundation
annual reports, booklets about the award given by the foundation, and award
allotments books. This series is arranged alphabetically by the name of the
award. In many cases, names of awards
have changed and the records are generally filed under the current name with a
notation of the earlier name.
Program Records, 1926-2007, consist of correspondence, newsletters, brochures, radio
scripts, other public relations material, and publications. This section contains the records for the
programs initiated by the National FFA Organization at the chapter, state,
national, and international level.
Important features of this series include international files, the Building
Our American Communities (BOAC) files, leadership files, and the public
relations records. The international
files include the organization's correspondence with foreign countries relating
to agricultural exchange programs for FFA members and relating to the formation
of foreign future farmer organizations such as the Future Farmers of Japan and
the Future Farmers of the Philippines.
The Building Our American Communities Program (BOAC) began in 1971 as a
way to foster community development through FFA partnerships with local
community groups. National winners were
recognized and awarded at the National Convention. The BOAC files include information about the
program as well as the winners of the awards.
The public relations files contain the official FFA Calendars, FFA Week
publicity, and radio scripts from the 1930s-1940s. These records contain phenomenal information
about the programs the FFA uses, past and present, to foster public
awareness. Other items in this series
include World War II programs that were designed to help win the war on the
home front, career recruitment, FFA recruitment, and other programs designed to
involve the community and elementary-aged children with the activities of the
FFA.
Publications, 1928-2008,
consist of handbooks, manuals, newsletters, articles, books, theses and
research studies published by and about the FFA. The FFA's national magazine, New Horizons,
previously titled The National Future Farmer, is individually catalogued
(call number S1.F97) and located in Special Collections and Archives. Other magazines related to agricultural
education and the FFA includes American Farm Youth (call number), Agricultural
Education (call number), and the Agricultural Educators Directory
(call number).
There are two different types of newsletters in this
series: advisor and general. The advisor
newsletter is called FFA Advisors Making a Difference. Prior to 1992 this newsletter was called Between
Issues. Originally the Between
Issues newsletter was sent out between issues of the National Future
Farmer. It contained information
about important events and activities.
The newsletter gradually evolved into an advisor's newsletter containing
ideas and teaching tools. The general
newsletter, called Update, is a monthly informational newsletter about
the FFA sent to members, advisors, government officials, and anyone involved or
interested in the events and activities of the organization. This monthly newsletter is a reminder of
upcoming events sent monthly.
The FFA publishes an annual FFA Manual for its members,
reflecting changes in the structure and procedures used by the
organization. The set of manuals in this
collection is incomplete until 1961. The
handbooks are published for students, teachers, and officers in the
organization. They explain specific
roles in the organization that a person may fill whether that be a national
officer, a chapter reporter, or an FFA advisor.
The articles and magazines located in this series are
published by other groups. These
articles have special FFA features and include anniversary celebrations and
special recognition for the organization.
Time, Newsweek, and Farm Journal are among the magazines.
Alumni Association Records, 1969-2003, include meeting minutes, reports, newsletters, and
publications. The main function of the
Alumni Association is to support the programs of the National FFA
Organization. The Alumni Association
holds an annual convention, provides scholarships to FFA members, and raises
awareness for agricultural education through auctions and other promotional
activities. A complete set of the
Alumni Council minutes, 1970-1995, and its membership lists explain how the
governing body works. The newsletter,
1972-1995, is the best source for documenting their activities.Also included with these records are theNational FFA Center Affiliate Records, 1972-1980, which consist of minutes,
membership lists, activity records, and a constitution. The FFA Center Affiliate was created solely
for the involvement of the National FFA Center staff.
National FFA Foundation Records, 1944-2005, consist of annual reports, audits, board minutes, donor
lists, short histories, budget information, and papers documenting the
foundation's incorporation. The
foundation was formed in 1944 to raise money for the National FFA Organization
and to fund awards to its members. The
annual reports are a good source of information about foundation donors and
award winners. All but three (1970, 1989,
and 1996) of the foundation annual reports are available. It is probable that the foundation was unable
to publish reports for those three years based on a note in the 1969 report
explaining that the lack of funding would not allow an annual report to be
published. It may also be true for the
other two years. Reports between 1945
and 1965 contain information about both the FFA and the NFA awards.
Other documents relating to the awards are the booklets
produced describing various foundation awards.
Information on the finances of the foundation can be found in three
different places: audit reports, budgets, and bulletins. The bulletins are important not only for the
budget information, but also because they describe the yearly requirements for
the distribution of the foundation money.
Photographs, 1916-2007,are arranged in two different categories: magazine
photographs and subject photographs. The
magazine photographs include images used in the FFA publications: The
National Future Farmer/New Horizons and Between Issues/FFA Advisors
Making a Difference. These
photographs are arranged chronologically by issue. Photographs from the magazines are useful on
a limited basis because there is no index to the magazine. An image can only be found based on the issue
or with basic knowledge about the time frame in which a specific event
occurred. The subject photographs are
arranged alphabetically under a series of subject headings created by the
National FFA Organization. The headings
represent the activities, programs, and personalities within the
organization. Photographs of the
National Conventions, National Officers, and American Stars are the most
valuable sources of information, contain the most complete sets of photographs,
and are the best identified. An index
has been created to assist with the location of National Officers (see Appendix
B). Another complete and
well-identified series is the staff photographs, including the National
Advisors and the National Executive Secretaries.
Slides, 1952-1995, are
from the national magazine, calendar, and slide shows often included as part of
the National FFA Convention program.
Early slides often include only the magazine and calendar covers. Paintings were commissioned annually by the
National FFA Organization to be used as calendar covers and for other
promotional activities during that year.
The magazine and calendar slides are arranged chronologically. The most beneficial part of the slide
collection is the slide shows, generally from the late 1970s-1980s. The slides emphasize visually the programs,
activities, and events sponsored by the National FFA Organization. Although some presentations are missing
pieces, most contain a script, set of slides and an audio cassette. The slide shows are arranged alphabetically
by title.
Audio-Visual Materials, 1935-2003, consist of audio cassettes, reel to reel recordings, video
tapes, and films. Oral history
interviews, convention recordings, and promotional campaigns are included in
this collection. The collection includes
a sampling of convention video sets, promotional videos such as commercials,
historic videos, and classroom instructional videos. A sampling of the convention videos is made
based on milestone events occurring during that year. For example, the 1987 National FFA Convention
highlights major changes occurring within the organization. The main portion of the collection is from
the 1970s-1990s. One of the oldest
films, called The Greenhand, ca.1935, documents chapter activities and
the initiation of new members.
Don McDowell, Executive Director of FFA Foundation,
1972-1973
7
19
Foreign (by country)
1953-1973
7
20-32
1953-1973
8
1-3
General (by state)
1963-1967
8
4-23
1967-1969
9
1-20
1970-1972
10
1-22
1972-1973
11
1-18
1973
12
1
Inter-Office Memos, 1964-1968, 1971-1973
12
1-5
Job Title, 1970-1973
12
6
Office of Education, 1972
12
7
State, 1963-1968, 1970-1971,
1973
12
8
Foreign Reports
A.W. Tenney Reports, 1956, 1965
12
9
E.J. Johnson Reports, 1957, 1961
12
10-11
Far East Report, Gray, 1959
12
12
Future Farmers of the
Philippines, 1962
12
13
Information on Outstanding Former FFA Officers, 1961-1962
12
14-15
National Advisors
W. T. Spanton
Correspondence, 1927-1934, 1956,
1959
12
16
Scrapbooks, 1961
136
1-2
A.W. Tenney, 1946, 1962, 1964
12
17
H. Neville Hunsicker
Activities, 1948-1949
12
18
Agriculture/Agribusiness News and Notes, 1974-1979
12
19-20
Articles, 1968-1974
12
21
AVA Award of Merit, 1982
12
22
Committees
Committee on Revision of P.L. 81-740, 1955-1973
12
23
National USOE/DVTE Committee, 1977
12
24-25
Conferences
General Seminars and Conferences, 1971-1975
12
26
National Seminar for Leaders in Post-Secondary
Institutions, 1973-1974
12
27
North Atlantic Regional Research Conference
1955-1963
12
28
1963-1964
13
1
Regional Conferences, 1963
13
2
Correspondence
Board of Directors, 1968-1977
13
3
Foundation, 1968-1974
13
4-5
General, 1960-1965, 1969-1977
13
6-7
Legal, 1969-1979
13
8
District of Columbia Greenhouse Project, 1963-1967
13
9
Farm Labor and Minors, 1967-1969
13
10
FFA History, 1966-1976
13
11
FFA Libraries, ca. 1950
13
12
FFA Reorganization, 1967-1968,
1971
13
13
FFA Trucks, 1957
13
14
Office of Education Reorganization, 1963-1970
13
15
Past State Officers Club,
1953-1956
13
16
Post-Secondary Education, 1972
13
17
Retirement, 1979-1983
13
18
Speeches, 1960-1980
13
19
Statistical Information,
1960-1979
13
20
West Virginia FFA-FHA Camp
Articles, 1950-1970
13
21
Brochures, 1950-1970
13
22
Correspondence, 1952-1964
13
23
Byron Rawls
Leadership Structure for Vocational Agriculture
Correspondence, 1981-1983
13
24-25
Reports, 1982-1983
13
26
Publicity Touring Program, 1981
13
27
Larry Case
Ad Hoc Policy Committee Meeting,
1993
13
28
Agriculture Study of the National Academy of Sciences
(diversity), 1984-1986
13
29
America 2000
1994-1995
13
30
1994-1995
14
1
Correspondence, 1983-1986, 1993
14
2-16
The Council, 1985-1986
14
17
FFA Center Relocation
Board Meeting, 1996
14
18
Correspondence, 1996
14
19
Reports, 1996
14
20-21
Long-Range Planning Committee
Consultants, 1994
14
22
Memorandum of Understanding, 1994
14
23
Minutes, 1994
14
24
Multicultural Task Force
A Report on State Minority and Majority Student
Populations of FFA Chapters, ca. 1990s
15
1
Articles on Diversity, 1993-1994
15
2
Correspondence, 1992-1994
15
3
Report, 1992-1993
15
4
Policy Update Committee, 1993
15
5
Vision 2000
Action Plan, 1995
15
6
Conference, 1994
15
7
Correspondence, 1994-1995
15
8
Cultural Issues, 1991-1992
15
9
Strategic Plan, 1994
15
10
Task Force, 1994
15
11
Workgroup I, 1994
15
12
Workgroup II, 1994
15
13
Other Officers
W.P. Beard, Specialist in Agricultural Education,
1940-1941
15
14
Lennie Gamage, Manger, International Programs, 1973-1974
15
15-26
Elmer J. Johnson, Program Specialist in Agricultural
Education, Federal Agent for the Agricultural Education Service, FFA
Consultant, Archives Chairman
2003-2005 Available in eArchives
(https://archives.iupui.edu/dspace/handle/2450/195)
Living the Legacy, n.d.
129
14
Update
1971-1997
64
4-10
1998-2000
123
29-31
2001-2005 Available in eArchives
(https://archives.iupui.edu/dspace/handle/2450/147)
Research Studies
A Comparison of Agricultural Education Students to the
“Typical High School Student” as Qualified in the State of Our Nation’s Youth, 2000
123
32
A List of References for the History of Black Americans
in Agriculture, 1975
64
11
A Study of Supervised Occupational Experience Programs of
Iowa Vocational Agriculture Students,
1977
64
12
Adapting the FFA to a Changing Program of Vocational
Agriculture, 1966
64
13
Computer and Software - Market Analysis Report, 1993
64
14
Factors Affecting Past and Prospective Enrollments in
Secondary School Agricultural Education Programs and FFA Membership, 1989
64
15
Forty Long Years - A Chronologue of Efforts to Secure
Professional Status Employment for Negroes within Federal Agency Sponsorship
of Vocational Education in Agriculture,
ca.1979
64
16
Papers, 1962-1984
64
17
Perceptions of Alabama Superintendents and Principals of
Vocational Youth Organizations, 1973
64
18
Relationship of Student Characteristics and Program
Policies to Participation in FFA (graduate
study), 1971
64
19
Role of the National FFA Organization in Assisting Local
FFA Chapters, 1980
64
20
Theses
A Comparison Between Non-Farm and Farm Students in
Relation to Course Enrollment and Involvement in Selected Activities in the
Future Farmers of America, 1977
64
21
A Comparison of the Elgin FFA Chapter Members Obtaining
the State Farmer Degree to those not Receiving the Degree Based on Occupation
and Income, 1970
64
22
A Study of Former FFA Members and Former Chapter
Presidents in Terms of Present Occupational Classification and High School
Leadership Activities, 1969
64
23
A Study of Integrated FFA Chapters in Oklahoma, 1963
64
24
A Study of Selected Participants in Two State Junior
Division Livestock Shows, 1970
64
25
A Study of Teaching Soils and Participation in the
FFA-SWCD Program in Nebraska, 1966
64
26
A Study of the Influence that Participation in Shows and
Fairs has had on the Establishment of Purebred Herds of Livestock and Dairy
Cattle Among Former Members of the FFA,
1951
64
27
A Study of the Methods used in Financing Future Farmers
of America Activities in Local Chapters of the Central Missouri Vocational
Agriculture District, 1973
64
28
A Study of the Newspaper Publicity Given to Vocational
Agriculture and FFA Activities in Oklahoma,
1953
64
29
A Study of the Relationship of the FFA Advisor Cognitive
Knowledge and FFA Chapter Activeness,
1979
65
1
A Survey of FFA Radio Programs in Oklahoma, 1951
65
2
An Evaluation of Activities of the County FFA Association
as Benefiting Lincoln County FFA Members,
1958
65
3
Characteristics Used by Outstanding FFA Vocational
Agriculture Students in Identifying Ornamental Plants, 1982
65
4
Expressions of Appraisal and Attitude Regarding the
Nature and Extent of Future Farmer Activities as Made by School
Administrators, Teachers, Parents, and High School Students, 1960
65
5
Factors Associated with Membership and Non-Membership in
FFA by Vocational Agriculture Students in Oregon, 1968
65
6-7
Factors Related to the Success of New Mexico Vocational
Agriculture Teachers as FFA Advisors,
1976
65
8-9
The Image of the FFA as Perceived by Current Active
Members and Advisors, 1973
65
10
The Leadership Attitudes of Former National FFA Officers, 1971
65
11
The National FFA Building Our American Communities
Program: Characteristics of Selected 1983 BOAC Projects, Program
Participants, FFA Chapters , Schools, and Communities, 1984
65
12
New Teachers’ Perception of the Pre-Service Agricultural
Education Program at Oklahoma State University, 1973
65
13
Objectives for Collegiate FFA Chapters in Agricultural
Education Programs, A Delphi Study, 1982
65
14
Opinions and Evaluations Expressed by Delegates, State
Staff, and Visitors Regarding the 1968 National FFA Convention, 1970
65
15
Relationship of Student Characteristics and Program
Policies to Participation in FFA
(dissertation), 1971
65
16
The Relationship of Students Who Participated in the
Oklahoma State FFA Interscholastic Contests During 1967-69 and Their Choice
Field of Study at Trade, Technical, Junior College, College or University
Level, 1970
65
17
The Role of the State FFA Executive Secretary, 1974
65
18
Selected Environmental Factors Which Appear to have
Contributed to the Success and Future Plans of Future Farmers of America Who
have Attained the State Farmer Degree,
1958
65
19
Teacher Perceptions of FFA Programs for Non-Farm and
Other Students in Ten Urban Counties in Washington State, 1991
65
20
Vocational Education in Agriculture Departments without
FFA, 1977
This year we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of membership for women. Come see the beginnings of your organization and an understanding of what makes it so great! View the first charter granted to Weyers Cave in 1928, early convention photos and films, and FFA fashion. Relive past FFA experiences while creating your own!
Let us know when you will be visiting! For your convenience, click on the button below to access on our online tour registration form.
