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Please
let me take the time to introduce myself. My name is Jacob Davis and I
serve on the State Staff of Agriscience Education within the Alabama
Department of Education in Montgomery. My position’s responsibilities
include serving as the Executive Secretary of the Alabama FFA Association.
I would like the opportunity in this first article to introduce the FFA.
The
FFA is the premier youth organization in the world. It is the largest
youth organization in the world, over 490,000 members strong. It is the
youth organization for students enrolled in Agriscience Education courses
at the high school level. Alabama’s FFA membership is over 14,000
members, making it one of the largest youth organizations in our state.
The FFA was founded nationally in 1928, making it the oldest student youth
organization in the nation. The Alabama FFA Association was chartered in
1929 (We still have the original charter hanging on the wall in the Auburn
Field Office). The FFA has several items of interest I would like to
introduce to you.
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Above is a picture taken at
the USDA Farm Bill Forum held at Tuskegee University on Thursday, August
25, 2005 at the Kellogg Conference Center and Hotel. Johanns brought his
nationwide tour to the campus to engage in open dialogue about the 2007
Farm Bill. Pictured above are: (front row from left to right) Jared
Beasley, State FFA Treasurer; Troy Newton, State FFA Advisor; Kimberly
Henderson, State FFA Sentinel; and Karen Baggett, State FFA Reporter;
(back row) Matt Wilson, State FFA Secretary; Jordan Hamilton, State FFA
President; Mike Johanns, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; Ron Sparks,
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture; Jacob Davis, FFA Executive Secretary;
and Bobby Thomas, State Department of Education. Not pictured, Brooke
Head, State FFA Vice-President.
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The
FFA Mission
The
National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in
the lives of students by developing their potential for premier
leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural
education.
The
FFA Motto
The
FFA motto gives members twelve short words to live by as they experience
the opportunities of the organization.
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Learning
to Do
Doing
to Learn
Earning
to Live
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Living
to Serve, the
National FFA’s Theme for this year. The FFA does provide many
opportunities for members across the nation to live a life of service to
their communities, state and nation.
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The Official
Name Change
of the FFA
The
National FFA Organization was organized as the "Future Farmers of
America" in 1928 in Kansas City, MO. In 1988, the official
organization name was changed to The National FFA Organization to reflect
the broadening field of agriculture, which today encompasses more than 300
careers in everything from agriscience to biotechnology to turf grass
management.
Federally
Chartered
In
1950, Congress granted FFA a federal charter, making it an integral,
intracurricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National
Vocational Education Acts. Two of the FFA top three executives are
employed by the U.S. Department of Education.
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Pictured Above is the 2004-2005 National FFA President, Jackie Mundt from Wisconsin congratulating the Newly Elected Alabama State Officer Team after the 2005 Alabama FFA Convention. Officers, left to right, are Kimberly Henderson, State FFA Sentinel – from Enterprise; Karen Baggett, State FFA Reporter – from Moulton; Matt Wilson, State FFA Secretary – from Jacksonville; Jared Beasley, State FFA Treasurer – from Hokes Bluff; Jordan Hamilton, State FFA President – from Cedar Bluff; and Brooke Head, State FFA Vice-President – from Deatsville.
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FFA
Structure
FFA
operates on local, state and national levels. Student members belong to
chapters organized at the local school level. Agricultural education
instructors serve as chapter advisors. Chapters are organized under state
associations headed by an advisor and executive secretary, often employees
of the state department of education. States conduct programs and host
annual conventions.
Programs and
Activities
The
FFA programs and activities help members develop public speaking skills,
conduct and participate in meetings, manage financial matters, strengthen
problem-solving abilities and assume civic responsibility. Degrees earned
at local, state and national levels recognize members’ increasing
accomplishments. Competitive events and awards programs in areas such as
public speaking, commodity marketing and agri-science recognize students’
achievements, encourage them to excel beyond the classroom and develop
career skills. Community service programs help students contribute to
society.
Alabama FFA
The
Alabama FFA Association was founded
in 1929. 2004-2005 membership has reached 14,075 students in 302 Chapters
with 335 Ag Teacher advisors.
I
don’t want to take too much space on our first release to the
publication, but I would like to share some Alabama FFA moments with you
by including some photographs with captions. I look forward to submitting
articles for this newsletter in the future and appreciate the opportunity
to further publicize the FFA. To find out more about our organization,
please visit the following websites:
The
National FFA Organization, www.ffa.org
and The Alabama FFA Association, www.alabamaffa.org.
Jacob
Davis is the Executive Secretary of the Alabama FFA Association.
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