A Historical Narrative On The Impact Of The New Farmers Of America (NFA) On Selected Past Members

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish a written historical narrative on issues relating to the impact the NFA had on selected past members. A secondary purpose was to create dialogue about the NFA. Major findings of this study were: (1) the participants believed that the agricultural teacher played an important role in their leadership development that helped them to lead and manage programs, and develop human relation skills, (2) the participants believed that the NFA and the FFA were similar, but after the merger there was a lack of Black leadership in the FFA organization, (3) the participants expressed the notion that neither Black nor White teachers were doing as much for all students after the merger and that the interest of the student was no longer a priority for many of the teachers, and (4) the participants believed that the merging of the two organizations was inevitable due to societal and educational integration that was going on in the 1960s. An implication of the study is that a lack of forethought and effort in maintaining Blacks in leadership positions led to poor morale and a loss of identity among Black students enrolled in the FFA.