FARMERS OF AMERICA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 7, 19 March 1947, Page 7

FARMERS OF AMERICA

BOYS AT HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL ORGANISATION FORMED Successful establishment in farming is the goal of more than 200,000 members of the Future Farmers of America, a national organisation of high school boys who have chosen agriculture as their lifetime career. These boys, aged 14 to 21, are studying vocational agriculture in 15,000 rural high schools throughout the United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rica. They find in the activities of the Future Farmers of America, popularly called the F.F.A., a laboratory wherein they can apply classroom theories and lessons to actual work on the farm.

The organisation had its beginning in 1917 when the Federal Government first appropriated funds to aid state schools which gave vocational training in agriculture. Within a few years the vocational agriculture students began to form local clubs. Local clubs co-operated in various programmse and activities and state organisation developed. f In 1928 under the sponsorship of the United States Officer of Education the boys decided to co-ordinate all local and State vocational agriculture clubs into a national organisation. Primary aim of the Future Farmers of America is the development of agricultural leadership, co-opera-tion and citizenship. This is the creed to which the future farmers adhere: “I believe in the future of farming, with a faith born out of words but of deeds. “I believe that to live and work on a good farm is pleasant as well as challenging. “I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others.

“I believe that rural America can and will hold true to the best traditions in our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in the inspiring task.”

The F.F.A. makes farming mean something to its members. 1 The boys are encouraged to go at the business of farming scientifically and earn while they learn. In school they take full advantage of the machine shop and carpentry work, livestock, crop and pasture

improvement courses and other instruction in agriculture. Out of school the vocational agriculture theory by advising the young farmer on individual and club projects on a year-round basis. He visits the boys on their home farms, constantly expounding to them the latest and most worthwhile developments in agriculture and guides them in actual farm work.

In this way F.F.A. members make as much progress in five or six years as many farmers do in a lifetime.