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NFA
FFA Celebrates New Farmers of America
Former NFA members honored at National FFA Center
By Dustin Petty
For 30 years, two organizations evolved
and prospered. With similar goals, ideals and
often coinciding paths, each group developed
leaders who would become pioneers
in their communities and in agriculture. One
of these organizations is the National FFA
Organization, today boasting more than
525,000 members. The other, the New
Farmers of America (NFA), existed for African-American
young men in a world where
“separate but equal” was a way of life.
NFA was organized in Virginia in 1927
and became a national organization in 1935.
The organization was originally formed to
serve agriculture students in southern states
where schools were segregated by law.
Much like the FFA, NFA sought to provide
young men with vocational, social and recreational
activities in order to develop their
skills in public speaking, leadership and agricultural
trades.
In 1965, NFA and FFA merged and FFA
added the talents of 52,000 NFA members
to its roster. The last NFA national
president, A. D. Pinson, presented his
black corduroy jacket to his FFA counterpart
at that year’s national convention.
To this day, that jacket hangs in the
National FFA Center in Indianapolis.
The year 2010 marks the 75th anniversary
of the founding of NFA. On Oct. 20,
during the 83rd National FFA Convention
in Indianapolis, Ind., Pinson and 10 former
members of NFA were honored with commemorative
bricks, which were engraved
with their names and placed in the courtyard
of the National FFA Center. With a
gospel choir, several dozen guests and a
southern-style breakfast, the men were
honored as vital links between a divided
past and the diverse future of FFA.
“These men paved the way for individuals
like me,” said Corey Flournoy, the
1993-1994 national FFA president and
the first African American to serve in that
post. “We appreciate everything you’ve
done to represent agriculture and to represent
strong African-American males.”
Pinson, a decorated Vietnam War veteran,
spoke about the changes he sees in the
organization he helped form 45 years ago.
“When I look at today’s convention,”
said Pinson. “I can look and say there is an
African-American presence in the Future
Farmers of America. I can look and say
there are women serving as officers of the
Future Farmers of America.”
There is, however, more work to be done.
At the time of the 1965 merger, over
one quarter of FFA members were African
American. At the end of 2008-2009,
only 4 percent of African-Americans were
reported on the FFA rosters.
Dr. Dwight Armstrong, Chief Operating
Officer of the National FFA Organization,
is hopeful that these numbers will change.
“We will…bring more inclusion and
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