BEATRICE – Beatrice had the first chartered Future Farmers of America Chapter, dating back to 1929. Then….the program ebbed. But, now...known as the National FFA Organization…it’s back. Newly hired agriculture instructor and FFA leader Dave Barnard said the original charter carries some history.


"When you look at the names on there, you're going to see Zimmermans, and Epps, and Claussens, and Reimers and I've got to believe some of you are shirt-tail relations to some of these people....old Gage County names. It't with a great deal of pride that we get this here charter, back."


Barnard, recently retired from a similar position he held for a long time at Tri County Public Schools….was hired by BPS to get the program started. Waiting to transition into that teaching position is local graduate, Colton Husa….who is student teaching this year at Fairbury. Monday night’s presentation to the Beatrice School Board was attended by Husa and ag student, senior Jordyn Vanschoiack. 


Dr. Stacie Turnbull of the Nebraska Department of Education presented the charter Monday night…..herself, a Beatrice student back in the late 1980s.
"We've been discussing when the Beatrice chapter closed and I know I was not here at this time, because I would have loved this opportunity...so, for personal reasons, I'm really excited. I've been carrying around this document and we've worked to get it up to snuff, to get the frame put back together. We're holding a frame, signatures and a document that's almost a hundred years old. So, in December of 1928, Beatrice was the very first chapter....FFA chapter in the State of Nebraska. Eagle was number two, but they've now merged with Waverly. So, Beatrice is the oldest chapter and this is really exciting to see it back."


April of 1929, the first Nebraska FFA State Convention was held. Turnbull…an Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Specialist… says there are now 250 agriculture instructors in Nebraska public schools. FFA chapters count a total of 11,500 members.


"A lot of history here. I know agriculture is very strong here in Gage County...and so I think this is a great service to your students....many who will continue to be engaged in ag industry."


School Board President Eric Trusty, who took part in FFA, said it’s exciting to see a chapter resume in the Beatrice Public Schools. Superintendent Jason Alexander says FFA is a lot about leadership and working with others, through agriculture education.


Barnard says while at Tri County, the FFA program routinely had 70 to 75 students. He said the initial contacts with students interested in the program at Beatrice number about 85.