Vocational agriculture and the F. F. A. : training program and accomplishments in Georgia

Vocational Agriculture
and the
F.F.A. Organization
-GEORGIATraining Program ,and Accomplishments
.ltU, U . a. , ,t.T, OrP.
Prepared by The State Department of Education
Vocational Education Service Agricultural Education Division
and The University of Georgia Agricultural Education Department

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Foreword
This Booklet ...
Explains that there are more than 16,000 boys from the farms of Georgia who are studying Vocational Agriculture. They are Future Farmers of America, and they represent approximately 300 schools in 147 counties.
Also seeks to tell the story of outstanding personal achievements as a result of the training, and the splendid contributions that are being made to our agricultural advancement. It attempts to show the present status of former students and F.F.A. members and how high school pupils are being prepared for careers in farming and for positions of leadership in their communities.
Vocational Agriculture and FFA provide training that is needed for:
* Discovering solutions to farm, home, and community problems. * Becoming skilled in practices in connection with farm and home enterprises. * Functional guidance toward the vocation of farming. * Successful establishment in farming as a vocation. * Development of leadership abilities. * Working cooperatively with others. * Improving the community. * Obtaining wholesome recreation. * Practicing patriotism. * Becoming good citizens. * Creating a love of country life. * Improving agriculture in Georgia and the Nation.
,,

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Vocational Agriculture---
A Georgia Product
VOCATIONAL EDUCATIO IN AGRICULTURE, as it exists in the nation public high scho 1 today, might very appropriately be called a Georgia product. The first national legislation to a ist in providing this practical training for large number of pro pective farmer wa the Smith Hughe ct of 1917. 1t wa pon ored by and bear the names of hvo di tingui hed Georgians, en ator Hoke mith and Congre man Dudley M. Hughe . Then followed the Georg D an act authored hy Georgia' enator Walter F. George and Congre man Bra well Dean. in e 1917 every pi ce of major leai lation affecting vocational education that ha been pa ed by th e ational Congre arne the nam of nator G orge.

Ho . HoK E SMITH

w HON.

LTER F. GEOHCE

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Vocational Agriculture and the
Future Farmers of America Organization
VOCATIO AL AGRICULTURE ha been a part of the educational program in our high chool for
35 year- ince 1917. hortly after the beginning of Vocational Auriculture, teacher hegan to see the need for a student oruanization. Thu wa born the Future Farmers of America idea.
Department of Vocational Agri culture are now an important egment of our chool .
FFA A D VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE, working hand in hand, are generally recognized as
the nation' mo t effective devi ce for in piring and training young men in farming and community leader hip. In it fir t 25 year the FFA ha gro\ n to be the world's large t farm boy organization
with approximately 350,000 member in the 48 tate , Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. There are numerous
benefits to be derived from vocational Agriculture and the FFA organzation.
Each chool ha a local FFA chapter like thi one at Spalding County High
S hool.

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Former Vocational Agriculture Students
and FFA Members Are Now Successfully
Established in Farming
From the early day hundred of thou ands of boy., have received the type of training that Vocational Agriculture and FFA offer. Many of thi number have become successfully e tabli hed in farming; others are well on thea way to e tab1ishment.
A trip over the tate would show many present day good farmer who attribute their succe in farming and home and community life to training rec~ived as Vocational Agriculture student and FFA member . Their accompli hments are of a wide variety. Let's take a look at some of them.
Ralph Tabor is an example of a good farmer who was once a good - student and FFA member. He holds the American Farmer Degree. Ralph is shown here with his family.
Some of the farmers were tudent of the earlier years and therefore have been established in farming for a considerable length of time. Others are young and were FFA members only a few years ago.
I. J. Medder , one of the first FFA
members, entered the farming business. From thi early start, he is now one of the most successful farmer of Worth County.

7 The turn of the last half of the century find Georgia farm with improved livestock and greener
pastures. At the ame time the land i being aved :from erosion. Former Vocational Agriculture students and FFA member are playing an important role in this development because they learned how while in school.
Jimmie Johnson, the young er of two brothers and a former FFA member, has developed thi pha e of the farm. He tarted it in 1938 under the guidance of hi agriculture teacher by purchasing a registered Angus bull and heifer a~. his fir t year project. He and hi brother are recognized throughout the outhern state as out tanding breeders of Angu cattle.
We are now experiencing greatly increased crop yields due to better land practices. Since a large portion of the training in Vocational Agriculture had to do with production practice , it is expected that former pupils would lead the way in crop yields.
Some of the more recent graduate , a a result of training in farm shop practices and machinery maintenance, are replacing antiquated mule power with farm machinery.
J. B. Bradley, who studied
Vocational Agriculture a t Green boro High School, has taken the lead in farming with tractor power and machines.

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The Training Program Is Varied and Interesting

LEARNING TO DO . . .

and

Developing a Farmer . .

- Learning how to think - thinking what to do - acquiring work kill -

In Vocational Agriculture learning takes place in the chool and reaches right out to the farm. The plan of in truclion is simple. Boy enrolled in the program are taught to di cover the best farm practices and to acouire accurate agricultural kill on a job or problem ba i in the cia room , chool hop, or on the farm. Under the supervision of the teacher, they apply the newly acquired knowledge and kills to ituation on their homo :iarms.

They Participate In Class Room Study
A class in the Chamblee High School under the direction of the teacher-Harold Smith.

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DOING TO LEARN . . .

and

Improving Agriculture . . .

"Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much."

They LeaJn By Means of Honze Projects

The preceding scenes and descriptions of achie\"emenl on farm of form er tudents should not give the idea that one can just wish for a gocd i"arm or wish to Le a good farmer and expect a miracle to come about. Hours of tud y and work as Vocational Agriculture tudent" and FFA mem hers went into the development of these homes and farms. A training program wa followed. In such a program, farm and home projects are the foundation. Live tock and crop enterprises make up a smaU farm for which the pupils plan practice in production, marketing, oil con ervation, etc. and puts them into operation. He ha hnanc1al arrangements where he shares in the income.

On the farm the Loy, the parents, and the teacher agree on appropriate projects to he used as a bas1s for the Vocational Agriculture learning pro gram .

Then too, supervi ed farmi ng progra m are important because they lead to e tab li hment in farming. A a boy progre es throu gh chool and increa e hi project , he get hi - feeL planted in the oi l, and when he i~ graduated, he ha crop , live tock and equipment with which to ta rt farmin". Jimmie J ohn on of J efferson chool with hi 1940 Gra nd Champion. Jimmi e is now co-owner of a l 50-cow herd of re"i tered Angu-.

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It is often desirable to learn on an in dividual basis out on the projects. In most cases the application of learning in the class comes as a result of the teacher's providing instruction for the boy on an individual basis on his farm . Weyman Underwood with hi. teacher and one of hi dairy cow .
On-the-farm partiCipation i espe cially desirable in the development of skills that are nece ary in carry ing out the practice program. A teach er with a group of hi boys learning the skill in connection with terracing land.
Here on the land, too, is where Future Farmers even a boys till in high school are exerting an influence for the improvement of agriculture. They are wisely u ing thousands of acre of land, and they own thousands of purebred livestock. Many a dad and neighbor has learned the value of good farm practices and later profited him elf by ob erving a Future Farmer at work.

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,Many commercial concern offe r ca h award to individual members who excel in the production of variou crop and live tock, or in other pha!'e., of their work.
The School Farm Shop Provides Facilities for the Development of Farm Machinery Skills
FFA Loys are learning to repair tools in thi chool hop under the direction of their teacher.
Community Projects offer an Opportunity for Learning Cooperation With Others
This project of land caping the ground. around a Church building
wa undertaken by the Moultrie
Chapter.

...
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Some State -Wide Accomplishments

of Vocational Agriculture Students

and J1'.F.A. Members

"DOING TO LEARN" . . .

and

"LEARNING TO DO"

The combination of cla and on-farm in truction and project work, with incentives supplied by FFA membe.r hip, i a powerful force. High chool boys learn to think critically about their farm problem . They are thus developed into elf-relient planners. They learn to make sound decision rather than to rely on gue s work. They learn to go beyond the planning stage. They develop an urae for action-an action that re ult in improving the projects and thus improving agriculture. The following figures how some tangible results of the education program in which these boys are engaged. The figure are for a recent year' work over the State of Georgia.

Crops Grown:

orne 1,557 tudent and FFA members planted 5,797 acre of cotton. High yield and profits per acre were at tained. A prize for the individual in each district having the best one-acre yield wa awarded. This stimulated intere t in determining the fer tilizer amounts and other pro duction practices. FFA member Bill Trummell gathers hi bumper cotton crop.

Corn i the mo t popular crop among Future Farmer . More than 15,500 acre were grown by 7,015 boy , and 170 of the e boys made more than 100 bu hel per acre and received Vo ational Agricultural
100 Bu. Corn Club K y . Alonzo Berrong
with hi corn project that made him eligible for the VocatiOnal Agri ulture 100 Bu. Corn
CluiJ.

13 One of our tandby commercial concerns offered eight prizes for the winner in the production
of corn. Although only 170 boy made more than 100 bushels, the intere t produced by the awards resulted in a study of the be t practice by mo t of the boys and considerably increa ed the yields over the state.
The two producing the highe t yields of corn in each of the four di tricts are being presented prizes and congratulation .
Livestock Produced :
Live lock i an ideal project for Vocational Agriculture tudents and Future Farmers. They have produced wine, dairy cattle, beef cattle, and poultry in ufficient quantities and high quality to improve greatly the live to k indu try of our tate. Better livestock and better grazing are on the in-
in Georgia. Vocational Ao- ri culture tudent a FFA member have made a contribution to the two program .
One of every two FFA member in Georgia own a purebred sow or gilt. Mo t of the offspring from the e are in turn being old to other farmer for breeding stock. As early as 1944, a pig chain program wa tatted that now reache into 160 FFA chapters. Through the chains five deserving boys from each chapter get a gilt every year. They give back a pig from their first litter so the chain will be kept alive and other boy may have the same opportunity. Also dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, and poultry are in the practice program of many boy::;.
Bill William of Buena Vista with his hog . He was one of the 6,684 boy prociu ing 14,445 head of hog .

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William Higginbotham of Wa hington with his dairy cattle, William wa one of the 1,662 boys producing and milking 2,596 head of dairy cattle.
Tommy Rainey, Ellaville, with hi beef cow and calf wa one of the 1,781 boys producing 3,115 head of beef cattle.
Many chapters over the tate own livestock a a chapter project. Some of the animals are young breeding tock or feeder . Other chapters own mature breeder as a ervice to farmers of the community. Pear on chapter has Hereford calve .

One of the important factors of livestock production is the howing of fat cattle and breeding tock at fair and community shows. Thi champion steer was grown and shown by Jimmy McMullan, of the Jefferson FFA Chapter and was bought by a commercial concern at a record price.
In the tudy of a good feeding program for live tock, boy oon di covered that pa ture , both permanent and temporary, were needed. They learned how to e tabli h and produce pa ture plant . Killi Bennett, of Forsyth i one of 1,373 boy e tabli hing 4,553 acres of permanent pa ture. Also, 2,101 boy grew out 7,201 acre of temporary winter pa ture .
Forestry work is empha ized in Vocational Agriculture instruction. Over 920 boys participated in planting 1lj2 million seedlings. Production of pine tree has been stimulated by fore try award and cholar hips. A cla of Swainsboro boy learn how to plant pine . eediing .

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Shop Projects:
Every Vocational Agriculture pupil ha access to a school community shop as a place to lea rn hop kill in connection with hi con truction and repair project . A before tated, hop work is an integral part of the training program. The following were among items built or repaired as a result of the farm hop training program during a ingle year: 1,140 elf-feeders; 9,601 fann tools; 1,603 chicken brooder ; 8,634 hou ehold items for the farm. And 3,478 members reconditioned farm machinery.
Two boys from the Miller Co. Chapter are building their self-feeders.
Marvin Ti ll man, Moultrie, under direction of hi teacher, learn welding whi le building a sta lk cutter.
A well equipped chool hop enable a boy to learn how to plane rough lum ber for u e in making item for home and farm.

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A FFA member learn to build lawn furniture if he doe n't mi the nail.
Billy Howard of Plain , stat winner of the Farm Mechanization Conte t, had the re ponsibilily of, repairing the tools on hi fath er larg farm. Other students have likewise u ed their farm shop training to build and repair farm machinery and building for the entire farm.
Some tudent become proficient in the u e of hop tools to the extent that they are able to carry out projects of home furni hing for their home .

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Home Improvements:
A unique type of project ha been in the f( rm of home improvements. A statewide home improvement conte t as a part of the FFA program has stimulated home improvement project-. The following i a year' work. Whole cia e have engaged in worthwhile home improvement project in all type of training. Re ults how that 2,235 boy ' planted 42,801 hrub ; 263 boy built walk ; 205 boy con tructed driveway ; 866 boy odded lawn ; 579 boys built well curb ; 1,711 boys reoaired home ; 1,322 Loy paint d home ; 2,213 boy repaired building ; and 13 boys painted farm building .
Albert Long of Wa hington mixing paint a one of the jobs in hi Vo ationa! Agriculture practice program.
Roy Pullen of Adrian hangs new creen on the dw lling.

19 Many boy , through completion of
small projects, become sufficiently skilled to assist with larger projects sPch as building a new house or barn.
Landscaping and upkeep of the shrubbery and lawn are hom e im provements which many Vocational Agriculture tudent carry out a pro ject in their practice pro(Tram .
Home improvement is encouraged throuah award for out tanding ac compli hment . FFA member are re ceiving check a winner in the paint ing contest.

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F.F.A. Trains For. .. Leadership in Community, State, and National Life.
"To practice brotherhood, honor rural opportunities and responsibilities, and to develop those qualities of leadership which a Future Farmer ought to posses .' 4 For these purpo es, FFA member come together regularly in chapter meetings to transact the bu ines of their organization. By peaking out on controversial i sue and taking a part in planning for group activitie , individual learn to take their places in a democratic ociety , They become familiar with parliamentary procedure. They learn to work together for community advancement. They learn to pre ide over meetings. They learn to become leaders in their chapter and are trained for citizen hip in our democratic way of life.
All officers are at their stations, and members of the chapter are as embled for the transaction of business or to give attention to any other matters that are properly preented.
Much of the work of the chapter is done by mall ommiltee . The program of work committee make recommendations on the activities that hould be carried out during the year. Then other committees take each of the various activitie and accept the re ponsibility for planning and putting them into operation.

21 By means of the FFA program of work, member learn to do many actlv1t1es that fit them for
better participation and leadership. Below are orne of the leader hip training activities and ac complishments of FFA member .
Public Speaking:
If rural America is better represented by able orators 111 the years to come, much of the credit undoubtedly should go to the FFA public speaking conte t which annually attracts some 2,000 entrants in Georgia.
Larry Bray of the Chamblee Chapter is the
1952 tate winner making his winning speech
on ..Con ervation And You"
Quartets:
A<:. a part of the leader hip training program a quartet is u ually developed for each chapter. In addi ti on to th comp tition for award on di 'lri t and tate levels, these quartet provide hour. of utertainment fur the weal chaptr and ci ic organization of the community.
The Berry High Chapter quartet wa the
1952 tate winner.

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Father-Son Banquets:
A highlight of any local chapter of Future Farmers is the Father-Son Banquet. Often it is com-
bined with the Mother-Daughter banquet for an extra big affair. In addition to the good relationship that is developed between boy and parents, these affairs give an opportunity for boys to develop leadership abilitie and to acquaint the publi with the work of the oraanizatwn.
Building Facilities Cooperatively:
Some of the chapters o.ver the state erect chapter ~abin which are used for camping, chapter games, and to orne extent for holdina chapter meetinas. Likewi e, they enaage in other cooperative proj ec ts.
The Quitman Chapter own a ru tic chapter cabin.
The Alpharetta Chapter i holding a me t mg in it chapt r log cabin.

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F.F.A Degree Work is a Specialty
FFA DEGREES are con idered the heart of the FFA program on local, state, and national levels.
There are four degrees of membership in the Future Farmers of America which repre ent advancement in these ideals of the FFA- better farming, better rural leadership, thrift, cooperation, love of country life, scholarship, character, confidence, wholesome recreation, and development of a financial investment in agriculture. The four degrees of active member hip are Green Hand, Junior Fanner, State Farmer (or Georgia Planter), and American Farmer. These degr~es of membership are contingent on definite accomplishments with re pect to farm projects, earnings, investment , leadership, and scholarship. Local chapters determine ihe individual's advancement in the first two grades of membership; the state determine the third; and the national organization confer the fourth degree-the American Farmer Degree.
To attain the American Farmer Degree, a Future Farmer mu t be actually engaged in farming on a farm basis; must have earned the three previou degrees; mu t have invested at lea t $500 in agriculture from his farm earning ; mu t be uperior in leader hip, scholar hip, and community service activities; must know parliamentary procedure; and mu t have an out tandin"' program under way for an agriculture future.
The 1951-52 school year produced 15 American Farmer Degree winner in Georgia , which i the largest num ber the state ever had in any one year. Each year winners are awarded free trips to the National Convention in Kan as City and also receive cash prizes awarded at the convention. Here are the 1950 American Farmer from Georgia.
The year 1952 also brought forth the large t number of Georgia Planter Degree Winners. There were 312 Georgia Planter , because of their accompli hments in farming and their leader hip records. Each year one of the Georgia Planter is fortunate in that he i selected as the Star Georgia Planter for the year. Dan Haygood of Forsyth was selected as the Star Georgia Planter in 1952.

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A State A ssociation is Organized
There are more than 300 local FFA chapter with a membership of more than 16,000 in Georgia. The e local chapters are merged into a tate a ociation of Future Farmers of America. Each year they hold their annual convention at the magnificent State FFA Camp near Covington, Georgia. Here the tate officer and more than 400 delegate run a week' convention. They learn to carry on the bu iness of the State A ociation and receive training that will help them to become better leader in their own local chapter .
The 1952 c~nvention of approximately 400 delegate as emble in the convention room of Mobley Hall, a one looks from the peaker' ro trum.

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Some FFA members while at the convention are fortunate enough to be elected as tate officer . It i indeed an honor to be elected as a pre ident or one of the other officers of the State As ociation. Pictured are the state officer elected for 1952-53.
In addition to the leadership training that is received in connection with the different e sions of the state convention, wholesome recreation is provided for the delegates.
Swimming and softball are among the popular sport for the delegates at the state convention.
Patrioti m i taught and practiced at the state convention. In the opening and closing ceremonie allegiance i pledged to the Hag of the United State of America. "Old Glory" wave from the flag pole which i located in the center of the camp grounds.

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Summer Camp Activities are Provided at the State F.F.A. Can1p
One of the objectives of the FFA is to provide wholesome recreation for its members. In order to train leaders for recreation programs the State FFA Camp is open 12 week during each summer at which time training in recreation is one of the major attractions. A well trained taff of recreational leaders give a week' course to the campers.
After a week's training in the various types of group recreation, the campers return to their local chapters with a better idea of the type of recreation that is de irable and with many of the kill for carrying it on in their local chapters.
During the summer of 1952 there were more than 3,200 campers, each of whom spent a week at the state camp. The interest i highlighted by the fact that the FFA boys have extended an invitation to the FHA girls, thu making it a joint camp. Thi arrangement not only makes the camp life more interesting but also provide a normal situation of boys and girl who are trained for joint recreational proaram that are appropriate for lo al chool .
A portion of the FFA Camp ground which how the recreational and dining hall . Up-todate cottage for accomodating up to 450 campers dot the land cape to the rear o the dining hall.

27 During the day classe of folk
games are taught by the camp leaders. Then in the evening all group are brought together in the auditorium for fun and frolic where they carry out the different types of folk games that they have learned during the day.
Softball is one of the popular types of recreation for which training is given during the summer program.
Swimming is enjoyed by boy and girls alike.

30 Training in handicraft provided for the campers.
The canteen i popular after the various games. With money in the camp bank, one of the FHA girl writes a check for the full amount of an ice cream cup.
The amphitheater memorial is u ed for evening vespers and is enjoyed by the camper on other appropriate oc caswns.

A National Organization of Farm Boys is Formed
FFA i the largest national organization of farm boy . One of the hi ghlights of the FFA is the national convention held each year in Kansa City, Mi ouri. Georgia is alway ' well represented at the convention. Many of the boy and teacher attend thi convention becau ~e of awards made by the FFA Foundation donor and local bu ine concern of our tate for out tanding a hievements in different pha e of the program.
National FFA Convention of 1952