FFA Celebrates at Ten / Roosevelt Talks to Farm Kids

Transcript (Download)

in public speaking is an important future farmer activity.

Five finalists have come up victorious through local, state, and regional eliminations.

Hawaii's entry is their first in national competition.

And here's the winner, 18 -year -old Jack Gunning of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Competition is always keen, and evidently the crowd is enjoying this year's event.

There is pride and interest glowing on the faces of the staunch supporters, which indicates true admiration for developed ability.

That may be only a scrap of paper, but to Jack Gunning, it's the first prize check for $250, which he's receiving from Treasurer Gross Close.

We are now in the arena of the American Royal Livestock Show, where the National Vocational Agriculture Stock Judging Contests are in progress.

The contestants, many of whom are FFA members, are giving attention to classes in sheep.

The boys try their hand at judging dairy cattle.

The contestants are working in squads under leaders.

Every individual is on his own when he steps into the ring, and his judging card tells the story.

Would you look at the Angus and Hereford's? The pick of the show.

But it takes a practiced eye to spot essential differences in such animals, weigh and evaluate the points that count, and to reach a sound decision.

It's learning by doing in the truest sense of the word, proving that future farmers know their livestock.

Here's James Espy of Missouri, who shorthorn captured a blue ribbon in the Vocational Agriculture exhibit.

David McDonald of Missouri, Robert Johnson of New Mexico, and Donald Folkerson of Missouri proudly show their prize winners.

Donald Scaff was grand champion of the junior show.

Well, it's Vocational Agriculture, FFA Day at the American Royal Livestock Show.

The convention adjourns for half a day and everyone heads for the afternoon horse show.

There's excitement aplenty.

This parade of students of Vocational Agriculture is an annual affair.

Led by the bands from Utah, Texas, and Missouri this year, the boys with colors flying, swinging behind and passing review before a crowd of 10 ,000 people.

Watch the banners as they go by.

It's farm youth on parade.

Included are past and present national officers of the FFA, newly elected American farmers, delegates to the convention, and members of Vocational Judging Team.

Everyone is on tiptoes because at the finish of the parade, announcements will be made concerning the Star Farmer of America, the outstanding member of the FFA for 1937.

Who will he be? Well, he's somewhere in that group of 75 American farmers who were raised to the highest degree in the organization.

To be named Star American Farmer as one of 150 ,000 farm youths is no small honor.

Stretching from Maine to Awoy and from the state of Washington to Puerto Rico, the FFA organization inspires and encourages its members.

In the finals, the records of 120 candidates for the American farmer degree were studied and scored.

But that also means many other eliminations in the states previous to the final selection.

It's competition among the cream of American farm youth.

Wright, Assistant Commissioner for Vocational Education, explains how star farmers are selected.

He is followed by W .A.

Cotchell, editor of the weekly Kansas City Star.

And here we have it, the announcement of the Star Farmer of America.

The winner, 21 -year -old Robert Lee Bristow of Virginia, modestly accepts the honor.

And the check for $500 offered for the ninth consecutive year by the weekly Kansas City Star.

As Robert raises his eyes to the crowd and expresses appreciation, he is no doubt thinking of what a change this $500 will make in his farming plans.

Honor confers the honorary American farmer degree upon J .C.

Swift, American royal president.

One of the highlights in the week's activities is an unusual ceremony entitled, Building the Flag, symbolizing the development of the organization.

A representative from Virginia, the first chartered association, places the first star, followed in turn by other representatives of states in the order in which they were chartered.

The flag is completed as the last star goes into place.

That of the Mississippi Association, truly a patriotic observance.

And everybody cheers, it's a grand sight.

One to inspire any red -blooded American farm boy to want to belong to the Future Farmers of America organization.

Then, National Advisor Linke presents a gold FFA medal to Star Farmer Bristow, and Advisor Jett and John Mefford of the Stamping Ground Kentucky Chapter and Alton Tassin of Louisiana receive national plaques on behalf of their respective units for outstanding accomplishment in 1937.

We are now in the little theater of the Municipal Auditorium where a national FFA exhibit is on display.

For the first time, many of those attending the convention see important and unusual products, many of which they have never seen before.

Here, newly elected President Lester Poucher of Florida, 18 years old, receives congratulations from outgoing President Joe Black of Wyoming.

A great experience.

Good work, Joe.

Good luck, Lester.

And it's all over.

The 10th Convention FFA celebration is history, and it made history.

Homeward bound, the boys bid Kansas City a hasty farewell for another year.

The foundation of the Future Farmers of America.

The Future Farmers of America.

Into the Municipal Auditorium, Convention Headquarters swing these FFA lads from all parts of the country to celebrate 10 years of progress.

Stepping into the grand foyer, we find boys from north, south, east, and west rubbing shoulders with one another at the registration booth.

Some of these lads are official delegates, others are livestock judges, and still others are just visiting members who have come thousands of miles to participate in this nationwide celebration of their own organization.

Well, well, everyone gets programs, badges, tickets to special events, and room assignments, if not already provided for.

Just take a look at those snappy jackets with the organization emblem on the back.

Certainly no chance of getting lost, and a sure means of identification anywhere.

Let's step inside the convention hall.

We're not cramped for room here.

This arena holds 15 ,000 people.

Delegates from 47 states in the territory of Hawaii are seated under the state standards.

National offices are at their stations, each bearing its own significant symbol.

Future leaders of a nation are getting unusual and varied experiences in conducting, under adult guidance, the affairs of this Future Farmers of America organization.

Their problems are on the youth level, and they are attempting to solve as many of them as possible for themselves.

See the expressions on their faces as they listen to the keynote address by President Joe Black of Wyoming.

Smith extends a hearty welcome and leaves the keys to the city.

Crowds, crowds everywhere, and the enthusiasm of youth, which is always contagious.

A few years ago, it was unheard of for farm boys to travel halfway across the continent in groups, much less to have their own organization and finance its activities from their own pockets, which teaches them self -reliance and initiative.

Little wonder they do things in a businesslike manner.

The radio carried a graphic account of convention progress.

Here we see W .E.

Drip's Agricultural Director of the National Broadcasting Company introducing Joe Black in one of a series of national farm and home hour broadcasts direct from the floor of the convention.

The National Broadcasting Company presents I am very glad to welcome all of you to Washington.

Even if you never make a great deal of money, at the same time, the odds are a thousand to one the other way that you'll never starve.

The odds are a thousand to one that you'll always have a roof over your heads, that you'll have good educational facilities for your families.

And that's a great deal more than a great many millions of other Americans in industrial life can be assured of.

You're doing a fine job.

Go back to your own home states and home counties and home towns and keep up the good work.

Date Of Production

1933 – 1937

Abstract

First, a newsreel featuring highlights from the 1937 Future Farmers of America convention in Kansas City, Missouri, produced for the FFA by Andlauer Productions.

Second, a newsreel produced by Fox Movietone News featuring President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressing the FFA from the White House lawn in 1933.

Format

35mm

Extent

1,000 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Print

Form

Newsreels

Subject

Farming
Youth
Agriculture
Livestock
Contests
Animals
Parades and processions
Patriotism
Radio
Politicians

Related Collections

Gary Smith - C.L. Venard Collection

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Missouri ➜ Kansas City

North America ➜ United States ➜ District of Columbia ➜ Washington DC

Sponsor/client

National Organization of Future Farmers of America

Main Credits

Andlauer Productions (is production company)

Fox Movietone News (is production company)

Participants And Performers

Gunning, Jack (is participant)

Wright, J.C. (is participant)

Bristow, Robert Lee (is participant)

Swift, J.C. (is participant)

Linke, John Austin (is participant)

Poucher, J. Lester (is participant)

Black, Joe (is participant)

Smith, Bryce B. (is participant)

Drips, William E. (is participant)

Do you know more about this item?

If you have more information about this item please contact us at info@chicagofilmarchives.com.