FFA offers more for everyone, no farm or ranch required

FFA is not exclusively for farmers and ranchers, according to Kimball High School agriculture instructor and FFA advisor, Sally Wheeler.

Wheeler, who grew up with an agricultural background added that the FFA mission 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.

“I believe that the FFA offers more opportunities to students than any other organization,” Wheeler said, “Students who have different abilities and interests can find a part of the program to be involved in. It offers opportunities for all students. FFA is a place where students can bring their skills and work to enhance and improve themselves. Students often develop new interest and skills while in the program.”

Wheeler added that she is proud and honored to be a part of an organization that is working so hard to teach our future generations be their best.

National FFA Week begins Saturday, Feb. 20 and will continue through the following Saturday, as it has since the tradition began in 1948.

The week encompasses President George Washington’s Feb. 22 birthday in recognition of his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer.

The Kimball FFA chapter has planned fun activities for the week including two days of eighth-grade activities on Tuesday, Feb. 23 and Thursday, Feb. 25.

Students in second, third and fourth grades will be invited to a petting zoo on Wednesday and Friday the local chapter will host a “Thank You” lunch and the local FFA Alumni will participate in a dodgeball game on Sunday, Feb. 28.

FFA began with an idea for families to keep their young men interested in farming – hoping they wouldn’t leave the family farms for another occupation.

Walter Newman, who in 1925 was the Virginia State Supervisor of ag education sought to find a solution to this very problem and invited other staff members to help.

Newman proposed forming an organization that offered farm boys “a greater opportunity for self-expression and for the development of leadership. In this way they will develop confidence in their own ability and pride in the fact that they are farm boys.”

In 1928, the idea reached the national stage during the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Mo., when 33 young students from 18 states gathered at the Hotel Baltimore to establish the Future Farmers of America.

The group elected Leslie Applegate of Freehold, N.J., as its first president and adopted the national emblem – during the new organization’s first convention. And in 1929, national blue and corn gold became FFA’s official colors. 1933 brought the familiar official dress of blue corduroy jackets.

In 1930, the FFA organization adopted their Creed, written by Erwin Milton Tiffany of Lyndon, Kan., and revised twice since it’s original publication.

The leadership organization has continued growing and now, according to the National FFA Organization website, FFA is among the largest youth organizations in the nation, with more than 610,000 members in 7,665 chapters.