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Previous
FFA Sentinel articles have focused specifically on the early
years of FFA. Last month’s article featured the first public
agricultural school in Alabama and the connections it had to the state’s
Experiment Stations. This month’s article features the years 1951-55
and will take a different approach from previous articles.
In
the records of the Alabama Future Farmer magazines, chapters
would send in reports on what had been done or were planning to be done.
A few of the chapters listed no longer exist. In order for a better
understanding of the times and for the benefit of those not yet born, a
brief summation of the featured years will precede the selected chapter
events.
The
thousands of young servicemen, who served our country during World War
II, brought back an energy never before experienced. American businesses
began to meet the peacetime needs of its customers. Goods and services
were purchased in astronomical amounts. A loaf of bread cost $0.14. Blue
jeans and poodle skirts made of felt and decorated with sequins and
poodle appliqués were popular as were ponytails for girls, and flattops
and crew cuts for guys. Saddle shoes and blue suede shoes were popular.
Teenagers were defined as a separate generation and were represented by
James Dean, who in the 1955 movie classic Rebel Without a Cause wore
blue jeans and created a fashion and attitude sensation. Children’s
hits included toys like Hopalong Cassidy guns and Davy Crockett coon
skin hats, said American Cultural History of Kingwood College.
From
the February 1951 Alabama Future Farmer:
Abbeville
– Held preliminaries in public speaking; bought bred Duroc gilt,
making total of three gilts now owned by the chapter pig chain; placed
14 gilts in chapter members’ homes.
Brantley
– Secured an O.I.C. male [pig] to keep at school for a community
project; secured official FFA jackets; made plans for painting and
improving the classroom; set a permanent Christmas tree on campus;
received and put up FFA calendars in all classrooms in school.
Collinsville
– FFA members have 19 fat calves on feed for spring show; built six
forest fire prevention signs; have 50 pigs on feed for county hog show
in March; awarded seven pigs from pig chain; one boy made 113.88 bushels
corn per acre and five made over 80 bushels; plan to paint classroom.
Douglas
– Planted FFA pasture; put on radio program; started pig chain; put on
rat control program in cooperation with the Veteran program and Health
Department; cooperated with the State Health Department on Bang’s
disease testing; sponsored King and Queen Contest and cake walk;
organized quartet-boys entering speaking contest; joint party with FHA.
Eclectic
– Held officer training school; earned almost $200; one member made
106.08 bushels corn per acre.
The
January 1952 Alabama
Future Farmer:
Grove
Hill – Officer
training class held; ordered 28,000 pine seedlings; initiated 17
Greenhand members; place four registered gilts in pig chain; placed one
registered boar; presented FFA sweetheart with cedar chest; completed
plans for making Christmas toys for underprivileged children.
Jemison
– Two gilts were added to the chapter pig chain; put on chapel
program; appointed committees to plan Mother-Daughter-Father-Son
banquet.
Kinston
– Held a joint FFA and FHA party; put on Future Farmer Variety Show;
organized quartet.
Riverton
– Purchased seven show calves; held officers meetings; entered chapter
contest; purchased new 16mm Ampro Premier Projector.
West
Point – Started
Duroc pig chain; plan to enter state sponsored contest; swapped bus for
electric welder; plan to elect FFA sweetheart; member purchased four
beef calves for show purposes.
The
March 1953 Alabama
Future Farmer:
Addison
– Had party with FHA girls; ordered Greenhand pins; one hundred
percent membership.
Ashville
– Initiated 21 Greenhands; string band practicing and quartet working;
seven members eligible for chapter farmer degree; studying parliamentary
procedure; all members enter public speaking contest.
Carlowville
– Ordered FFA jackets and FFA stationary; held FFA-FHA dance; helped
organize district FFA.
Falkville
– gave radio program; bought new 180 amp welder; distributed FFA pigs;
building furniture for library; made plans for donkey basketball game.
Hackleburg
- Ordering
12,000 pine seedlings; have prospective candidates for Junior Dairymen;
helped deliver Christmas packages to needy; working on FFA speeches and
quartet.
The
April 1954 Alabama
Future Farmer:
Heflin
– Sold subscriptions for a magazine to raise money to help pay for the
lighting system to be installed in the vo-ag classroom in Cleburne
County; game warden of the Talladega National Forest spoke to the
chapter about keeping fires down in our forest, and about the hunting
and fishing laws.
Moulton
– Have ordered cooperatively 116 fruit trees, 34 grapes and 1,500
strawberries; issued 36,000 bicolor seedlings to members; Jr. III boys
making bookcases in shop; purchased a new Ansco Viking camera for
chapter; elected four honorary members; ordering signs for mailboxes:
"A Future Farmer Lives Here."
Orrville
– Put out 25,000 bicolor lespedeza plants; started a calf chain; held
regular semi-monthly meetings; finished building barbecue pit.
Red Bay
– Planted 6,000 bicolor lespedeza plants; raised 20 Greenhands to the
degree of Chapter Farmer; planning joint party with FHA; purchased three
hogs for chapter hog project; offering course in arc welding to chapter
members; added literature to chapter library; ordered 60 fruit trees.
Sand Rock
– Held two chapter meetings; brought a fruit sprayer for community
service and an FFA camera; sold two pigs from pig chain.
Vina
– Bought Hampshire purebred boar for use in FFA pig chain; ordered
shrubbery to landscape new auditorium.
The
March 1955 Alabama
Future Farmer:
Aliceville
- Held annual corn luncheon; presented FFA paper weights to business
men; enlarged pig chain; selling rat poison and Progressive Farmer
magazines; six news articles to newspapers; gave out membership cards
and FFA pins; ordered FFA Sweetheart jacket and FFA calendars; put on
radio program.
Clanton
– Held two regular meetings; made plans for each member to carry out a
rat control program on his farm; received 12,000 pine seedlings; chapter’s
Hampshire gilt farrowed six pigs; repaired toys for Community Chest.
Enterprise
– Held one meeting; initiated Chapter Farmers; ordered fruit trees and
13,000 pine seedlings; had joint party with FHA girls; nine boys ordered
1,200 bicolor plants.
Frisco
City – Met in
the auditorium for first meeting of year; new business was brought up
and the public speaking contest was discussed.
Rehobeth
– Initiated 19 Greenhands and each purchased Greenhand pin; ordered
8,000 pine seedlings; fixed dado machine in shop; elected FFA
Sweetheart; put on membership drive; constructed movie projector for use
by vo-ag and home economics departments.
These
are only a respective of the hundreds of chapter events contained in the
Alabama FFA archives. It’s amazing to read what was considered
important to those FFA members. More chapter activities will follow in
the months to come.
Jacob
Davis is the Executive Secretary of the Alabama FFA Association. |
