SENATE RESOLUTION 18
(By Senators Smith (Mr. President), and Hart)
[Introduced February 28, 2025]
Designating March 3, 2025, as Future Farmers of America Day at the Legislature.
Whereas, In 1917, Congress passed the Smith-Hughes Act providing funds for teaching vocational agriculture in high schools. In 1925, Virginia Tech agricultural education teachers organized the Future Farmers of Virginia (FFV) for boys in agriculture classes. Soon other states followed suit and adopted the program; and
Whereas, The Future Farmers of America (FFA) was established in 1928, in Kansas City Missouri, with the first National FFA Convention assembling 33 delegates from 18 states. Over the years, the organization grew to include chapters from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and is designed to serve middle, high school, and college students with an interest in agriculture; and
Whereas, The FFA provides a platform for students to compete and showcase skills gained from the classroom and real-world, hands-on learning. Students acquire leadership skills through the organization as well. In 1965, FFA merged with the New Farmers of America, which was the agricultural club for African-American males at the time. Females were allowed membership in the FFA in 1969; and
Whereas, In 1988, the Future Farmers of America officially changed their name to the National FFA Organization to accommodate the growing diversity in the agriculture sector. There are currently over 1 million members nationally. The FFA was chartered in West Virginia in 1928, and the state association was organized with the first state officer team during that year. In WV there are currently 91 agriculture education programs, serving 6,968 members across the state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby designates March 3, 2025, as Future Farmers of America Day at the Legislature; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Farm Bureau organization.