Kentucky FFA Chapter History Project

As Kentucky FFA approaches its Centennial, your chapter has an opportunity to preserve its story. Use this guide to help organize and lead your Chapter History Project.

Get Organized

Before beginning your Chapter History Project, create a plan for how your chapter will collect and organize information over the next several years.

Suggested Planning Steps
  • Decide which projects your chapter wants to complete
  • Identify student and advisor leaders for each area
  • Recruit volunteers and alumni support
  • Create a timeline for research and collection
Suggested Project Teams
  • Oral History Team
  • Photos & Media Team
  • Research Team
  • Alumni & Lists Team
  • Memorabilia Team
Driving the energy revolution

Capture the Stories Behind Your Chapter

One of the most valuable parts of your chapter history is the personal experiences and memories shared by former members and supporters.

  • Record stories and memories from people connected to your chapter
  • Preserve important moments and traditions
  • Document how your chapter has changed over time

  • Former members and officers
  • Past advisors
  • American Degree recipients
  • State award winners
  • Family members of former advisors or supporters

  • Phone video recordings
  • Zoom interviews
  • Audio recording apps

✔  Focus on meaningful stories, not just dates
✔  Prioritize interviews with influential alumni or “firsts”
✔  Make sure audio quality is clear
✔  Label and organize files carefully

Chapter Firsts

Highlight Historic Milestones

Every chapter has milestones worth celebrating. Identifying important “firsts” helps tell the story of growth and progress within your local program. These milestones showcase how your chapter evolved and recognize individuals who helped shape its success.

 

Examples to Research

First advisor  |  First chapter president  |  First State Star winner  |  First female officer  |  First American Degree recipient

Discover Your Chapter’s Impact

News & Records Research

Researching newspaper archives and records can uncover important moments in your chapter’s history.

Where to Search
  • Local library archives
  • Newspapers.com
  • School archives
  • Local historical societies
Search Terms to Try
  • FFA
  • Future Farmers
  • Vocational Agriculture
  • Farm

  • Agricultural Education

Best Practices
  • Keep a running document of articles found
  • Save screenshots or PDFs whenever possibleRecord publication names and dates
Photo & Visual History

Bring Your Chapter’s Story to Life

Photos and visual materials help preserve the traditions, activities, and people that shaped your chapter.

What to Collect

Scrapbook photos
Team and officer photos
Event images
Newspaper clippings
School yearbook pages

What to Do

Scan and digitize old photos
Organize images into folders or albums
Add captions with names, dates, and events
Save files in shared digital storage

Helpful Tools

Google Photos
Flickr
Shared Google Drive folders

Alumni Engagement Idea

Post old photos on social media and ask:

“Who’s in this photo?”
“What year was this?”
“What’s the story behind this event?”

Alumni Lists

Reconnect with Former Members

Building alumni records can strengthen relationships and help chapters reconnect with generations of FFA members. Whenever possible, include updated contact information to help maintain long-term alumni connections.

Information to Collect
  • Past chapter officers
  • Award winners
  • State and national degree recipients
  • Sweethearts and honorary members
  • Advisor records
Ways to Gather Information
  • School yearbooks
  • Alumni outreach
  • Chapter scrapbooks
  • State staff records
Memorabilia Collection

Preserve Physical Pieces of History

Historic items help bring your chapter’s story to life and create meaningful displays for future celebrations.

Examples of Memorabilia
  • FFA jackets
  • Plaques and trophies
  • Banners
  • Photos and scrapbooks
  • Event programs and memorabilia
Important Steps
  • Photograph every item carefully
  • Record ownership history and descriptions
  • Accept donations or temporary loans
  • Return borrowed items as promised
Create excitement while uncovering history

Special Events: Oldest Jacket Contest

Create excitement around your history project by inviting community members and alumni to participate in a special chapter event.

How it Works
  • Ask alumni to submit vintage FFA jackets
  • Display jackets during an event or open house
  • Photograph and document each jacket
Bonus Ideas
  • Feature stories in local newspapers
  • Social media spotlights
  • Alumni recognition posts
  • Community displays during chapter events

Final Tips for Success

Keep your project organized

• Label files clearly
• Use shared digital folders
• Back up important documents and photos

Focus on Both Stories & Facts

The best chapter histories combine personal memories with documented records and milestones.

Involve Alumni

Former members, advisors, and supporters are often your greatest resource for preserving your chapter’s legacy and traditions.