Simone Lawson
The National FFA Organization, originally known as Future Farmers of America, was founded in 1928. While the original 1928 constitution stated that active membership would be open to any student, FFA delegates voted in 1930 to restrict membership to any male student. Despite this, some women found ways to participate in FFA on a local level, as several states allowed female participation to varying degrees. In 1969, the FFA constitution was revised to strike the word male, finally allowing female students to join the national organization. This change recognized women's role in agriculture and paved the way for future generations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year FFA constitution was revised to include females | 15 October 1969 |
| First proposal to include females | 1935 |
| First female delegates to the national convention | 1970 |
| First female national FFA vice president | 1976 |
| First female national FFA president | 1982 |
| First African-American female national FFA president | 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
The 1930 FFA convention voted to exclude women
The Future Farmers of America, or the National FFA Organization, was founded in 1928. The original 1928 constitution stated that active membership was open to "any student of vocational agriculture". However, this changed in 1930 when FFA delegates voted to restrict membership to "any male student". This change excluded females from participating on the national level, although some states continued to allow female participation at the local level.
The fight for female membership in the FFA was a long and arduous one. Despite the 1930 constitution change, some women found ways to bend or break the rules. For example, from 1949 to 1969, a young woman could become a chapter's "Sweetheart" or social ambassador and receive an FFA Sweetheart jacket, which was white instead of the standard blue. Additionally, in some states, it was illegal for publicly funded programs to restrict membership based on sex, allowing women in those states to pursue agricultural education.
It wasn't until 1969, 39 years after the exclusion vote, that the National FFA Organization finally admitted women as full-fledged members. This change occurred due to the likely threat of court action, as the 1964 Civil Rights Act had made the FFA's policy of female exclusion illegal. On October 15, 1969, the delegates voted to strike the word "male" from the constitution, officially opening membership to females.
The road to female inclusion in the FFA was a long and challenging one, but the organization has since celebrated not only 50 years of female members but also their leadership roles in the agricultural industry. The fight for female membership in the FFA highlights the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender or race.
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In 1966, a committee recommended removing male from the constitution
The Future Farmers of America, or the National FFA Organization, was founded in 1928. In 1930, FFA delegates changed the FFA constitution to "any male students", barring female students from participating on the national level. Despite this, some states continued to allow female participation to a certain extent on a local level.
In 1966, an Ad Hoc FFA Organization Study Committee was formed to review various impacts of membership. In August of that year, the National FFA Board of Directors proposed constitutional changes based on this committee's work, including the recommendation to remove the word "male" from the constitution. During the morning and afternoon business sessions on October 13, 1966, delegates engaged in intense debate and discussion on multiple sections of the ad hoc report. By the end of the convention, the delegates accepted all recommendations of the committee except for two, one of which was to drop the word "male" from the constitution.
In 1967, a motion was made by one of the national FFA officers to change the constitution to allow girls to be members. This motion was seconded but rejected by the other national officers. However, a motion to seek a legal interpretation regarding the FFA's obligation to accept girls as members on the national level did pass. The General Counsel for the U.S. Office of Education provided a legal opinion in October 1967, stating that excluding girls would be discriminatory and inconsistent with the overall objectives of the FFA. Despite this legal interpretation, the FFA delegates voted against extending membership to young women in 1967 and 1968.
Finally, on October 15, 1969, the delegates from California and Michigan moved to strike the word "male" from the FFA Constitution, and the motion was passed by a two-vote margin. This marked a significant step in recognising women's role in agriculture and paving the way for future generations.
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In 1967, a motion to allow women was rejected
The Future Farmers of America (FFA), or the National FFA Organization, was founded in 1928. The original 1928 constitution stated that active membership would be open to "any student". However, in 1930, FFA delegates changed the FFA constitution to "any male student", barring female students from participating on the national level.
The following year, in 1968, the FFA National Officers and Board of Directors again recommended that the delegates approve a constitutional change to allow female membership. However, despite the legal ruling and admonishment of the FFA leadership, the delegates at the 1968 convention did not approve the change. This prompted serious discussions at the January 1969 Board of Directors meeting, where the problems and ramifications of not allowing girls into the FFA were addressed.
Finally, on October 15, 1969, the delegates from California and Michigan made a motion to strike the word "male" from the FFA Constitution, and the motion carried by a slim two-vote margin. With this change, female students were officially allowed membership into the National FFA Organization, marking a significant step towards inclusivity and recognizing women's vital role in agriculture and the workplace.
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In 1969, FFA admitted women as members
The Future Farmers of America (FFA) was founded in 1928. Initially, the FFA's 1928 constitution stated that active membership was open to "any student". However, in 1930, FFA delegates voted to restrict membership to "any male student", barring females from participating at the national level. Despite this, some states continued to allow female participation to varying degrees.
In the 1960s, there was a growing movement to admit women as members of the FFA nationally. In 1965, an agriculture teacher in Cosa Mesa, California, criticised the FFA's exclusion of women as "unjust" and "unconstitutional". In 1966, an Ad Hoc FFA Organization Study Committee was formed to review the impacts of membership, and the National FFA Board of Directors proposed constitutional changes, including the removal of the word "male". However, this proposal was rejected by delegates at the 1966 convention.
In 1967, the FFA sought a legal interpretation of their obligation to accept females as members. The General Counsel for the U.S. Office of Education ruled that excluding females was discriminatory and inconsistent with the FFA's objectives. Despite this legal opinion, the FFA delegates voted against changing the constitution to include females in 1967 and 1968.
Finally, on October 15, 1969, the delegates from California and Michigan moved to strike the word "male" from the constitution, and the motion carried by a two-vote margin. With this change, the FFA admitted women as members, recognising their role in agriculture and paving the way for future generations.
The inclusion of women in the FFA's constitution was a significant step towards equality and inclusivity. However, it took time for the changes to be integrated, and many women had to persevere during the formative years. In 1970, Anita Decker and Patricia Krowicki became the first female delegates to the national convention, and in 1976, Julie Smiley became the first female national officer. In 1982, Jan Eberly was elected as the first female National FFA President, and in 2002, Karlene Lindow became the first woman to receive the FFA's highest agricultural award, Star Farmer.
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FFA's first female national president was elected in 1982
The FFA's constitution was revised to include females in 1969. On October 15, the California delegate proposed, and the Michigan delegate seconded, to strike the word "male" from the FFA Constitution. The motion carried and was passed by a mere two-vote margin.
This change was a significant milestone for the FFA, recognizing women's role in agriculture and paving the way for their future generations in the field. However, it took time to integrate the changes, and many women had to be brave during the formative years.
Despite this progress, it was not until 1982 that Jan Eberly, from California, became the first female national FFA president. Her election marked a significant shift in the representation of women in agricultural leadership roles within the FFA, which had traditionally been male-dominated.
Eberly's presidency served as an important influence, inspiring younger generations of women in agriculture and encouraging more inclusive participation in agricultural education. Her achievement helped to inspire future generations of female leaders in the FFA and agriculture. She broke down gender barriers in American vocational organizations, paving the way for more women to hold leadership roles within the FFA.
Jan Eberly's election as the first female national FFA president in 1982 was a historic moment, reflecting the growing involvement and recognition of women in agricultural leadership roles. It represented a progressive change in the organization and highlighted the increasing number of female members and leaders in the FFA following her presidency.
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Frequently asked questions
The FFA constitution was revised to include females in 1969.
The word "male" was removed from the FFA constitution's "active membership" section, allowing females to join.
No, the motion to revise the FFA constitution to include females was passed by only a two-vote margin.
