National FFA Prepares For Future of Ag Ed, Updates Federal Charter

A bill presented in the U.S. House of Representatives will amend the charter of the National FFA Organization, providing flexibility for the association to serve a growing and changing agriculture education mission.

The National FFA Organization says the revision will allow the board of directors to have greater flexibility, have power to appoint the chairperson and National FFA Advisor. The FFA board will consist of individuals representing education, agriculture, food and natural resources. This involvement will help ensure agriculture education is relevant to school curriculum and prepare students for future careers. 

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Penn.) and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) introduced H.R. 5595, as requested by National FFA and the Department of Education, into the House floor Tuesday. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate in February by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

Planning For Continued Growth

Another revision in the new effort will allow the organization to expand the number of national officers representing the organization’s growing memberships.

“The amendments set the stage for FFA in the 21st Century and allows us to bring FFA and our operations into the future,” said Mark Poeschl, CEO of the National FFA Organization.

“The one thing that has not changed is our commitment to the relevance that FFA and agricultural education continue to have in our nation’s education system,” he adds. “With its three integral components – classroom/laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experiences and FFA – the agricultural education model continues to push students toward a thriving future thanks to the relevant skills learned and experience obtained. These amendments will strengthen our commitment.”

The FFA charter originally passed as Public Law 81-740 in the 1950s. The most recent version of the FFA charter, Public Law 105-225 passed in 1998 as a technical revision. The FFA charter specifies the U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set the direction for National FFA as a service to state and local agricultural programs.