Commending the Virginia FFA.

Commending the Virginia FFA.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 16, 2026
WHEREAS, for more than 100 years, the Virginia FFA has provided opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and build a strong foundation for success in future careers through agricultural education and programming; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia FFA and the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, trace their origins to the passage of the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act of 1917, which provided federal funding for teacher training and agriculture education at the high school level; and
WHEREAS, in September 1925, four agricultural educators at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)—Henry Groseclose, Edmund Magill, Walter Newman, and Harry Sanders—were inspired to help students in rural areas gain confidence and enhance their skills; and
WHEREAS, the result was the formation of the Future Farmers of Virginia, also known as FFV, which held a rally at Virginia Tech, featuring exhibits and competitions to promote the agricultural sector and generate interest in agricultural fields of study and careers; and
WHEREAS, the Future Farmers of Virginia served as a model for other such organizations across the country, including Future Farmers of America, now known as the National FFA Organization, which formed in 1928; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia FFA works with local chapters across the Commonwealth to provide educational materials for students, support teachers, and create opportunities for young people in and out of the classroom; and
WHEREAS, over the course of its history, the Virginia FFA has cultivated a sense of fellowship between farmers throughout the Commonwealth, encouraged Virginians to learn more about and pursue careers in agriculture, and worked diligently to ensure that agriculture continues to play an important role in the Commonwealth's vibrant economy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Virginia FFA hereby be commended on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia FFA as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's legacy of service to young people and contributions to the agricultural sector in the Commonwealth.