National FFA Organization
Founded in 1928, the Future Farmers of America brought together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. In Kansas City's Baltimore Hotel, 33 young farmboys charted a course for the future. They could not have foreseen how the organization would grow and thrive.
Since 1928, millions of agriculture students - no one knows exactly how many - have donned the official FFA jacket and championed the FFA creed. FFA has opened its doors and its arms to minorities and women, ensuring that all students could reap the benefits of agricultural education.
Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Now, the organization is expanding the nation's view of "traditional" agriculture and finding new ways to infuse agriculture into the classroom.
History of Kingston FFA
The Kingston FFA Chapter was established in 1936 as charter number 167 with Paul Thompson as the first Vo-Ag instructor. However, in 1942 the program was closed due to World War II and remained closed until 1948. Bill Bond was the instructor for one year and in 1949 G. C. Blakemore accepted the position and remained until 1963. During the time Mr. Blakemore was the instructor Kingston FFA members received many prestigious honors. Among those honors, Hugh Matchen was named District Star Farmer in 1955 and Donna Page was selected as Southeast District Sweetheart in 1962. Also during this time, 12 Kingston boys received the Junior Master Farmer degree. In 1963 the Vo-Ag program was dropped from the curriculum at Kingston in favor of an enlarged industrial arts program.
With strong support from the community the program was reopened in 1983, hiring Mr. Richard Thomas as the Vo-Ag instructor. The booster club was essential to the reopening of the program as they raised money to build the facilities. Mr. Thomas was the instructor at Kingston from 1983-2002. During his years of dedication at Kingston he was very successful with the chapter earning prestigious awards on both the state and national levels.
In 2002, Mr. Chris Webb was hired as the Ag Ed Instructor. During his time, the chapter continued to grow in numbers and impact. Chapter members gave back to the community and worked hard to improve public relations. Mr. Webb served as the advisor at Kingston from 2002-2007. In 2007, Mrs. Amber Atteberry was hired to be the instructor. She served until the 2011-12 school years. Mr. Chris McGowan is the current instructor.
FFA Creed
I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.
I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.
The creed was written by E. M. Tiffany, and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention.
What is Ag Ed and FFA?
The agricultural science education program is built on the three core areas of classroom/laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experience programs and FFA student organization activities/opportunities. FFA holds a federal charter.Two of the top three FFA executives are employed by the U.S. Department of Education. 
FFA represents the relevancy to the core areas offering students opportunities that changes lives and prepares students for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. Founded in 1928, the FFA organization represents a large diversity of over 300 careers in the food, fiber and natural resources industry. FFA is an integral part of a school system.
FFA uses agricultural education to create real-world success.Agriculture teachers become advisors to local FFA chapters, which students join. More than 7,000 FFA chapters are currently in existence; their programs are managed on a local,state and national level. Each chapter’s Program of Activities is designed with the needs of the students in mind.Activities vary greatly from school to school, but are based in a well-integrated curriculum. Chapter activities and FFA programs concentrate on three areas of our mission: premier leadership, personal growth and career success.
Membership
Today (2008), there are 507,763 FFA members, aged 12-21 in 7,439 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
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41% of FFA members are female; women hold more than 50% of state leadership positions
77% of our membership is Caucasian; 17% is Hispanic and 4% is African-American
89% of FFA members are in grades 9-12; 6% are in grades 7-8; 5% are high school graduates
27% of FFA members live in rural, farm areas; the remainder live in rural non-farm (39%),
urban and suburban areas (34%)
FFA chapters are in 11 of the 20 largest cities, including New York, Chicago and Philadelphia
The top five membership states are California, Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio
The 75th National FFA Convention was host to 51,338 members, advisors and supporters
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