Founded in 1928, the Future Farmers of America brought together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. In Kansas City’s Baltimore Hotel, 33 young farmboys charted a course for the future. They could not have foreseen how the organization would grow and thrive.
Since 1928, millions of agriculture students – no one knows exactly how many – have donned the official FFA jacket and championed the FFA creed. FFA has opened its doors and its arms to minorities and women, ensuring that all students could reap the benefits of agricultural education.
Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Now, the organization is expanding the nation’s view of “traditional” agriculture and finding new ways to infuse agriculture into the classroom.
South Dade has had a FFA chapter since the school opened in 1953. The “Southern-Most” Sr. chapter been committed to Dade county agriculture, and the alumni of South Dade’s agriculture program can be found throughout agribusiness in the state. Distinguished alumni include Pal Brooks of Brooks Tropical fruits, Larry Dunnagan of Dunnagan and Son Farms, Kerry Herdon of Kerry’s Bromeliads and Klassic Beauties, Barney Rutzke of Railroad Nursery,Bob Fuchs of RF Orchids, and Kern Carpenter of Kern Carpenter Farms. The group continues to preserve Dade agriculture and serve the area through community service.