Compared back to the early days, FFA doesn't have a focus on just farming anymore. FFA contains production, research, science, math, and just about everything you can think of. Looking through the Ag Ed Magazine, we can see that teachers have changed that viewpoint as well. In 1944 (Volume 17), one of the main sections of the Ag Ed Magazine was the Farming Mechanics Section, and the Farming Methods section. Since then, the magazine moved its focus from farming to the science and leadership aspects of teaching(Volume 80) (Volume 64, Labratory Teaching).
Another change is the influence of Urban Agriculture. In the 40's, 50's, and even into the 60's, urban agriculture was not considered, as in many cases it didn't exist. Beginning in the 60's though, FFA began to change, and the typical rural farm scene didn't apply to all students (Volume39, Changes in FFA).
Now, Urban Agriculture and International Agriculture are some of the front runners, and of great importance to the modern FFA. (Volume 80, Cultivating Diversity)
Even though the FFA has changed over time, some ideals last forever.
Members always come first. Even in the early days of FFA and Ag Ed, members were responsible for running the FFA Chapter and it's events. (Volume 17, Interest in the FFA Chapter) and even now, a main focus on the FFA Chapter is the leadership of its members.
The FFA overall, no matter how much it changes, is still our fundamental organization attached to agricultural education, and will always be that way.
(I do not own any of the photos in this blog)
Articles found in Ag Ed magazine
Foster, B. (2008, January ). Ag ed magazine, volume 80,. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume80/v80i4.pdf
Johnson, D. (1991, September). Ag ed magazine, volume 64, effective labratory teaching. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume64/Vol 64 No 3.PDF
Miller, L. (1983, October). Ag ed magazine, volume 56. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume56/v56i4.pdf
Householder, L. (1978, October). Ag ed magazine, volume 51, local supervision in ag ed. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume51/v51i4.pdf
Wolff, F. (1967, May). Ag ed magazine, volume 39, changes in the ffa. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume39/v39i11.pdf
Fausold, G. (1954, December). Ag ed magazine, volume 27, there are limits to ffa programs. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume27/v27i6.pdf
Watson, C. D. (1944, September). Ag ed magazine, volume 17, interest in the ffa chapter. Retrieved from http://www.naae.org/links/agedmagazine/archive/Volume17/v17i3.pdf
