In 1965, the civil rights movement and local and state desegregation began to crumble the hold that years of racial segregation had on America. With that contagious spirit came the inspiration to combine the New Farmers of America — the vocational agriculture organization for African American students — and FFA. Eight years later, in 1973, Frederick McClure from Texas became the organization’s first African American national officer. As national secretary, McClure and his five fellow national officers traveled the country promoting agriculture and FFA, a journey that eventually led to Washington, D.C., and the office of Vice President Gerald R. Ford. A friend to FFA, Ford believed vocational education played a vital role in preparing youth for leadership and career opportunities that would one day transform the nation’s agricultural landscape. Today, more than 700,000 members strong and fortified by the foundation of agricultural education, FFA continues to cultivate the future of agriculture for not only our nation but also the world.
