Eleanor Finch
The New Farmers of America (NFA) was a national organization for African-American young men in agriculture. It was established in 1935 to provide vocational, social, and recreational activities to develop leadership and citizenship skills. The NFA was the result of the vision of three men: Dr. H. O. Sargent, Federal Agent for Agricultural Education; George Washington Owens, Teacher Trainer at Virginia State College; and J. R. Thomas, also a Teacher Trainer at Virginia State College. While Owens is credited with writing the constitution for the New Farmers of Virginia, both he and Sargent played a significant role in establishing the NFA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | George Washington Owens |
| Occupation | Teacher-Trainer at Virginia State College |
| Other Notables | Helped lay the foundation for what would become a national organization |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington Owens' background
George Washington Owens, also written as Owen, was a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, now known as Virginia State University. He played a significant role in the establishment of the New Farmers of America (NFA), particularly in the development of its constitution. Owens' work laid the foundation for the NFA to become a national organization serving African-American youth in agriculture.
Owens was born in 1896 in Brunswick County, Virginia, and later moved to Tennessee during his youth. He received his education at the Virginia Normal and Industrial School, now Virginia State University, where he established an agricultural program and worked with the dairy. After graduating, Owens remained at the university and continued to work in the field of agriculture.
In 1917, following the passing of the Smith-Hughes Act, Owens became a prominent advocate for vocational agriculture. He dedicated himself to establishing agriculture programs in Negro schools and, in 1920, became a teacher-trainer at Virginia State. Owens' efforts to promote agricultural education extended beyond the confines of the classroom. He was committed to making agriculture accessible to African-American students across the South.
Owens' work with the NFA began around 1927, and it became one of his most notable achievements. He wrote the constitution for the New Farmers of Virginia, which served as a blueprint for the national organization. The NFA was officially organized in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1935, and it provided African-American young men with vocational, social, and recreational activities. The organization empowered its members by offering leadership opportunities and skills development in public speaking, judging, and agricultural trades.
Owens' dedication to agricultural education and his contributions to the NFA were recognized during his lifetime. In 1932, the new agriculture building at Virginia State was named Owens Hall in his honor. He retired from Virginia State in 1945 and passed away in 1950 at the age of 75, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of agricultural education.
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H.O. Sargent's role
Dr. Harvey Owen Sargent, also known as H.O. Sargent, played a significant role in the founding and development of the New Farmers of America (NFA). Born in 1875 on an Alabama farm, he received a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1901 and subsequently held positions as a senior horticulturist and an educator.
Sargent's involvement with the NFA began with his advocacy for African-American farm youth. He, along with G.W. Owens, was an early proponent of creating an organization dedicated to this demographic. In his role as Federal Agent for Agricultural Education in the U.S. Office of Education, Sargent worked towards establishing an organization that would provide vocational, social, and recreational activities for African-American young men in the agricultural field. This was especially important in southern states where schools were legally segregated.
Sargent, alongside Owens, wrote the first constitution and bylaws for the New Farmers of Virginia, which served as the foundation for the NFA. This constitution outlined the structure and principles of the organization, including its focus on leadership development through public speaking, judging, and committee work.
The NFA became a national organization in 1935, and Sargent's contributions were recognized during his lifetime and posthumously. He was regarded as one of the key figures in the establishment of the NFA, and his widow received a silver tea service in his memory in 1937. Additionally, officials from the NFA laid a wreath on his grave in 1941-1942, honouring his role in the organization's founding.
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J.R. Thomas' involvement
J.R. Thomas was one of the founders of the New Farmers of America (NFA), a national organisation for African-American young men. Thomas, along with H.O. Sargent and G.W. Owens, was instrumental in establishing the NFA, with Owens writing the constitution.
Thomas was a teacher trainer at Virginia State College, and his involvement in the NFA began around 1927 when it was a localised movement in Virginia. The NFA sought to provide young men with vocational, social, and recreational activities to develop their skills in public speaking, leadership, and agricultural trades. It was formed to serve agriculture students in southern states where schools were segregated by law.
The NFA started as a vision of these three men, with Thomas being regarded as the "Father of NFA". They wanted to create an organisation that would develop the qualities of leadership and citizenship in its members. This was achieved by allowing members to participate in conducting meetings, sharing in carrying out the program of activities of the chapter, and serving on committees.
The NFA became a national organisation in 1935, and Thomas's contributions laid the foundation for its success. The NFA provided essential leadership opportunities for its members, and Thomas's role in its establishment is considered one of his major achievements.
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The New Farmers of Virginia
The New Farmers of America (NFA) was established in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1935 as a national organization for African-American young men. The NFA sought to provide vocational, social, and recreational activities to develop skills in public speaking, leadership, and agricultural trades. The organization was formed to serve agriculture students in southern states where schools were legally segregated.
The NFA was envisioned by three men: Dr. H. O. Sargent, Federal Agent for Agricultural Education at the U.S. Office of Education; George Washington Owens, Teacher Trainer at Virginia State College; and J. R. Thomas, also a Teacher Trainer at Virginia State College.
Owens wrote the constitution for the New Farmers of Virginia, which laid the foundation for the NFA. He was a major proponent of vocational agriculture and helped establish agriculture programs in Negro schools. After the Smith-Hughes Act was passed in 1917, Owens devoted most of his attention to the development of vocational agriculture in Virginia. In 1920, he was designated as the teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, and in 1932, the new agriculture building was named Owens Hall in his honor. He retired from the college in 1945 and passed away in 1950 at the age of 75.
Sargent, a native of Alabama, played a significant role in the founding of the NFA. He served as president of the West Alabama Agricultural School at Hamilton for 12 years, during which the school became widely recognized as a leading institution in the South. Sargent passed away in 1941, and a wreath was laid on his grave by NFA officials.
The NFA provided its members with leadership opportunities that were essential for their success as modern farmers. These leadership abilities were developed through various activities such as public speaking, judging, chapter contests, and training received through chapter committees under the supervision of local advisers.
The NFA served as a localized movement in Virginia around 1927 and eventually expanded to become a national organization. It merged with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) in 1965, reflecting the growing diversity in agriculture.
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The National FFA Organization
The origins of the National FFA Organization can be traced back to the early 20th century, when a need arose for an organization dedicated to the advancement of African-American youth in agriculture. In 1927, George Washington Owens, a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, wrote the constitution for the New Farmers of Virginia, which laid the foundation for what would eventually become a national organization. Owens, along with Dr. H. O. Sargent, the Federal Agent for Agricultural Education, and J. R. Thomas, another teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, shared a vision for an organization that would provide essential leadership opportunities for African-American farm youth.
The New Farmers of America (NFA) was officially organized in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1935, becoming a national organization dedicated to serving African-American young men in the agricultural field. The NFA sought to develop leadership and citizenship qualities in its members by involving them in conducting meetings, executing chapter activities, and serving on committees. Through public speaking, judging, and chapter contests, members honed their leadership skills under the guidance of local advisers.
In the same vein, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) was established in Kansas City, Missouri, with its roots tracing back to the Future Farmers of Virginia, founded by Henry C. Groseclose, Harry W. Sanders, Walter S. Newman, and Edmund C. Magill. The FFA, like the NFA, aimed to provide vocational, social, and recreational activities to develop skills in public speaking, leadership, and agricultural trades.
In 1965, the two organizations merged, forming the National FFA Organization. This merger reflected the growing diversity in agriculture and marked a significant step forward in uniting young people from diverse backgrounds under the common goal of agricultural advancement. The National FFA Organization continued to evolve, adapting its programs and expanding its reach to include younger students, such as those in the seventh and eighth grades.
Today, the National FFA Organization stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of its founders. With a strong focus on leadership development and a commitment to inclusivity, the organization has empowered countless young people to pursue successful careers in agriculture. The FFA's impact extends beyond the individual, contributing to the overall growth and innovation within the agricultural industry.
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Frequently asked questions
G.W. Owens, a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College, wrote the constitution for the New Farmers of Virginia, which laid the foundation for the national organization.
Owens was a teacher-trainer at Virginia State College and a proponent of vocational agriculture. He helped establish agriculture programs in Negro schools and was designated as a teacher-trainer at Virginia State in 1920.
The NFA started as a vision of three men: Dr. H.O. Sargent, Federal Agent for Agricultural Education, J.R. Thomas, Teacher Trainer at Virginia State College, and G.W. Owens.
The New Farmers of America (NFA) was a national organization for African-American young men that was formed in 1935. The organization provided its members with leadership opportunities and development in public speaking, leadership, and agricultural trades.
