Now, I cannot believe I am saying this, because I am not a very fashionable person, but let’s talk clothes 🙂  I pretty much wear jeans and a t-shirt every day, and have been known to wear boots (and not like the cute leather ones, but clunky barn ones) to class… but seriously… let’s talk clothes. I wear a lot of T-shirts with the FFA emblem on it, but what do FFA members really wear?

I also have a blue Carhartt that has my name and the emblem on it. However, this is not the traditional FFA Jacket that students wear to events, conferences, and competitions. “Official dress” AKA OD is a white, button-up collared shirt, a tie or scarf, a blue corduroy jacket, and black pants and shoes for boys and a black skirt and nylons for girls.

The FFA emblem has a lot of meaning behind it. The FFA colors are National Blue, and Corn Gold. The Eagle on the top, demonstrates how the FFA is a National Organization that reaches from the state of Hawaii to New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico. The cross section of corn (look back at the emblem, see the circle… it’s corn! Whattttt) this represents the foundation of American agriculture, and because corn is grown in every state in the nation. The words “agriculture education” are on the emblem because students must be enrolled in Ag Ed to be involved in the FFA. The plow symbolizes labor and tillage of the soil, the backbone of agriculture and the historic foundation of our countries strength. The owl, sitting on the plow, is to symbolize the wisdom and knowledge of older agriculturists and FFA advisers  or teachers. Finally, the rising sun represents progress, and holds the promise that tomorrow will bring a new day full of opportunities. (National FFA Association.)

So, these outfits may look strange by themselves, but look REALLY cool when a lot of people are wearing them! These outfits are extremely professional and actually have had only a few changes since 1933, when the first FFA Jacket was created. Some people think this is kind of ridiculous, but I think it is really cool. Some of my classmates were even able to wear their parents’ jackets!

On the front of the FFA jacket is your name, and a small FFA emblem. Fun fact, I wrote an essay for my first jacket, and got it for free from the PA FFA Alumni, it was pretty awesome.

The back of the blue corduroy FFA jacket has the state you are from on the top, a large FFA emblem in the center, and your FFA Chapter name. So, because I went to Elizabethtown Area High School, my FFA Chapter’s name is Elizabethtown. There are some really interesting ones in Pennsylvania, like Battlefield FFA (Gettysburg) Mason Dixon FFA, Grassland FFA, Troy FFA, and many more!

This is also really cool when going to National events, because then you know where people are from. At the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis Indiana, I once had dinner with someone from Alaska, South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, and Idaho. I think it is so cool that we were all gathered in Indiana for the same reason, even though we literally live in separate corners of America. However, this also lets people know you are from out of town! Ha ha, one time I was in Washington DC and this guy yelled, “hey Pennsylvania, what are you doing in DC?” It was definitely a conversation starter!

So, yeah, corduroy may be out of style for pants, but let me tell you, it’s pretty much the coolest jacket you’ll ever wear!

If you guys have any questions about FFA, feel free to ask! 🙂

Sources:

National FFA Organization

As promised, a quote I learned in FFA, and love!

“Sometimes leadership is planting a seed under whose shade you will never sit.”

Have a great week guys!

-Sarabeth