THE YEAR WAS 1928. It had been 11 years since the Smith-Hughes Act had been passed, allowing for vocational agriculture education in classrooms. Thirty-three farm boys from 18 states gathered in Kansas City for the National Livestock Judging contest. It was here that the Future Farmers of America was formed.
Fast forward 92 years, the National FFA Organization is one of the largest student-led organizations in the United States. In 2020, membership reached a new record high, recording 760,113 students with Florida ranking fourth in the nation with 29,772 FFA members! That is almost 60,000 up from 2019 numbers of 700,170. I wonder if those 33 farm boys ever imagined where their club would be today.
In order to be an FFA member, you must be enrolled in a multi-level, sequential ag course, which is mainly any middle or high school program. However, it left a lot of us wondering how membership numbers will be this year, given so many students are choosing to use virtual learning platforms. Florida FFA released the following statement in late August regarding the options to maintain membership:
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Central Florida Ag News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Central Florida Ag News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Agri NEWS
Study Gives Strawberry Growers Hope in Pest Battle
Florida Roots
New Florida Cattlemen President Cliff Coddington: ‘Let’s Ride Together’
Home-Grown Taste
Weeki Wachee Distillery Offers Tours, Tastings, Outdoor Fun
Recipe Spotlight
Stir Things Up With a Taste of Wild Game
Hitting the Mark
4-H Shooting Clubs Help Keep Life Goals On Target
Challenging Conventional Wisdom Uncovers Deeper Truths
ONE OF THE JOBS of UF/IFAS scientists is to challenge conventional wisdom. You don’t want to bet the ranch on something that only seems true. Facts, empirical evidence and data are a more solid foundation for the truth you need to make decisions about your herd, farm or grove.
Impact of Antler Point Regulations in Florida
Florida ag-rec update
SIGNS of the SEASON
Florida Taps Into the Tropics With Guava
The Right Way To See Florida
Great Climate, Crops Mean Opportunities for Agritourism Abound
What's the Buzz About Backyard Beekeeping?
In the Heartland Highlands County
