Okmulgee FFA made anniversary celebration signs to display around the school district, including at Dunbar Intermediate School, which was once Dunbar High School where the NFA chapter was established.
When the New Farmers of America (NFA) established a chapter at Dunbar High School in Okmulgee, Okla., in 1951, members raised broilers, participated in livestock judging competitions and attended national conferences. Participation in these traditional vocational agricultural activities continued when the local NFA and FFA chapters merged in 1965 to become Okmulgee FFA.
The chapter experienced big wins over the years, including earning chapter awards in 1974 and 2020, producing winning livestock and poultry judging teams, and paving the way for two members to become state officers.
In 2011, budget cuts forced the closure of the chapter, ending Okmulgee FFA’s string of successes.
The reinstatement of the chapter in 2018 motivated Tim Taylor, agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor, to adjust the program’s focus. Now, Okmulgee FFA gives members nontraditional agricultural experiences such as mechanics, welding and aquaponics.
“When we reintroduced FFA in 2018, we had to recruit students to try classes and join the organization,” Taylor says. “Once they got involved, word spread quickly and interest grew. Community buy-in has been steady; our community knows the value of the program.”
In 2021, Okmulgee FFA celebrated its 70th anniversary by honoring its rich history. The chapter hosted an anniversary party, decorated a homecoming float with NFA and FFA colors and emblems, and scanned photos, articles and other memorabilia to create a digital slideshow.
LeAundre Delonia (pictured above, middle) recorded interviews with former Dunbar NFA members Leman Lewis Sr. (pictured above, left) and Charles Williams (pictured above, right) to document the chapter’s NFA history. He was surprised to learn that NFA members had to stay at the YMCA during the national convention in Atlanta because the conference hotel was segregated. Delonia says this perspective was important to learn how far we’ve come.
Okmulgee FFA members pose with the anniversary float they decorated for the homecoming parade.
“I’m thankful we have many more opportunities now,” Delonia says.
The combination of recorded interviews and NFA and FFA memorabilia help tell important stories about chapter and local history, Taylor says.
“Our students realize they aren’t the first ones to blaze a trail in Okmulgee agricultural history,” he adds. “They now know they have some great leaders who set examples to follow.”
To ensure Okmulgee FFA Chapter history is preserved, the officer team is creating a time capsule filled with historic and current artifacts, including a chapter-branded mask to represent FFA involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic and letters to future officers.
“I hope the FFA members who open the time capsule can see all of the hard work we put into it,” says Breanna Bevenue, chapter president. “If we weren’t doing this, a lot of people in our town wouldn’t know that we used to be an NFA chapter. That information is crucial for preserving our FFA history.”
The time capsule will be buried on campus during National FFA Week from February 19-26. It will be opened in 2051 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Okmulgee FFA. Until then, Delonia is focused on the present.
“We’ve come a long way,” he says. “And we’re in the process of making new history.”
