The FFA Sentinel

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. 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.   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. Learning to Do Doing to Learn Earning to Live 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.       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. 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.   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.