A 1941 North Middletown FFA Chapter scrapbook (left) next to a 2023 Bourbon County FFA Chapter scrapbook (right), representing 82 years of history.
We all know that one person — whether it’s your mom, grandma or friend — who keeps a scrapbook. These are usually embellished albums with pictures and captions highlighting experiences, travel, milestones or achievements.
Keeping a scrapbook allows future generations to reflect on a small part of history. The first mention of an FFA chapter scrapbook contest is thought to have taken place at the 10th National FFA Convention in 1938, and many chapters created scrapbooks for every school year.
When I asked my fellow reporters if their chapters still made chapter scrapbooks, many said yes and informed me that their state still has a contest for chapter scrapbooks. The Bourbon County FFA Chapter, for example, still creates a chapter scrapbook even though Kentucky does not have a statewide chapter scrapbook contest.
Although having a scrapbook is not required, many chapters understand the importance of keeping a record of all events and successes to help motivate future members and inspire new ideas. Bourbon County FFA found and preserved scrapbooks from North Middletown High School, which no longer exists but dates to 1941.
Access to records like this could help members see how agriculture has advanced and its continued importance. Seeing the pictures and reading past members’ names and achievements won by chapters may move members to ask questions and research information that could give them examples of what FFA was like when it was new to their school and community.
It also reconnects alumni to their former chapters, as alumni engagement is a big part of FFA. During multiple events throughout the year, Bourbon County FFA displays its scrapbooks. Keeping up with chapter scrapbooks can reconnect old friends, connect current members with alums and raise support for a chapter.
A scrapbook page documenting the 1941 North Middletown High School FFA executive team, which looks similar to the setup of a current FFA chapter executive team.
Chapters can create scrapbooks in many ways, but the traditional way is to cut and paste by hand. Custom covers can be ordered from Etsy, Creative Memories, or any other business that creates photo album covers. Paper, stickers, markers and glue can be found on ShopFFA or in any store that has a craft section. Photos can be printed at any store that offers the service.
Making a traditional scrapbook can be a lot of fun, as it allows members to show off their creativity in a hands-on way. It also allows for cohesion between past and present scrapbooks when reporters leave their mark on a piece of chapter history.
Thanks to technology, reporters have a new, less messy way to make a scrapbook digitally. Canva, Shutterfly and Adobe are the most popular options for creating digital scrapbooks. This process makes it easier for reporters and their advisors to work together and create neat and organized scrapbooks.
Technology can also help avoid spelling errors in captions. Even if life gets busy, reporters can make templates for pages ahead of time and drop in photos after events to ensure they are up to date.
It can also be more cost-effective because supplies do not need to be bought and repurchased over multiple years. For example, if an advisor already has a Canva Pro account, they can create a document, share it with the reporter, and use features without buying them.
Finally, it will also make future historians’ lives a lot easier. Creating a scrapbook digitally and having it professionally printed will eliminate the need to reconstruct past scrapbooks every year or worry about losing photos that aren’t in great condition.
This is an old Supervised Farm Practice Committee goals list. It shares several similar goals with today’s FFA chapters, including farm project tours, completing or showing growth in projects and entering projects in the state fair.
Each FFA chapter has a different story to tell. Keeping the tradition of the chapter scrapbook alive helps connect the chapter’s history to the present day. It also connects FFA members to their communities and allows alumni to reconnect and recount their days as FFA members.
There are so many options for creating a scrapbook that reporters can choose from. All options have advantages and downsides, but the most important thing to remember is to enjoy the process. The more a reporter enjoys creating the scrapbook, the better the outcome will be, meaning many will enjoy it for years to come.
