2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 111
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